Small fields: Discerning Irish punters want status quo to remain

In Britain they are becoming increasingly worried about field sizes, believing that a small number of runners in races are a turn-off for punters and bookmakers alike.

We have had murmurings in Ireland as well, at least in certain quarters, that something has to be done about races that fail to allow punters the possibility of each-way betting.

The answer, of course, is more handicaps and, whatever about the Brits, if you really want to piddle off the serious Irish punter then that is certainly the road to travel.