TOP jockeys Pat Smullen and William Buick both picked up riding bans in recent weeks. Both, it could be said, emerged from their misdemeanours with some leniency shown by the racing authorities. Both, arguably unfairly, benefitted from the fact that they are established jockeys.

Pat Smullen’s transgression angered Jim Bolger, and it did look a needless and dangerous move to cut across the two horses on his inside. Are we not still racing at the Curragh because of the big wide spaces, all the room in the world?