ON Sunday at Navan’s Troytown Chase fixture the rumblings of discontent finally made their way into the open with an announcement from the Irish National Professional Bookmakers Association (INPBA) that as of November 24th a bookmaking service will no longer be guaranteed at all Irish race meetings.

It is unfortunate that things have reached this stage, but perhaps in taking the plunge and making an open threat as regards the ongoing provision of their services the on-course bookmakers have brought things to a head with the hope being that this might result in some form of resolution.