Cook 49 has not ridden since his mount Madraco lost its footing during the Portland Handicap at Doncaster in

Cook, 49, has not ridden since his mount Madraco lost its footing during the Portland Handicap at Doncaster in September, 1989.
Mrs Justice Smith said Cook was a very tough and resilient man who made a rapid recovery from his physical injuries – broken ribs and a fractured collarbone, thumb and foot. But his anxiety reaction to the accident meant he completely lost his nerve and was unable to ride again.In July 1993, the High Court ruled that Doncaster district council, which owns the course, was liable for the fall, which also forced Madraco into retirement, because of the unsatisfactory state of the ground caused by drainage work.Cook, who rode 1,500 winners worldwide in a 23-year career, loved his life as a jockey and the company of racing folk, the judge said Horses had been his life, both for business and pleasure. David Thom’s appeal against a pounds 1,000 fine failed yesterday. The fine had been imposed after the Newmarket trainer’s Tiger Shoot had been deemed a non-trier at Southwell on 11 May The horse was banned from racing for 30 days.

Thom said yesterday: “I am shocked and bitter that we have been put through all this when we were completely innocent.”. A High Court judge yesterday awarded Paul Cook compensation of pounds 352,000 for the fall which finished his career as a jockey nearly six years ago. “If he were to prove himself in this [really useful] company, the rest of the season would be mapped out for him,” Wall said yesterday. “If not he will be put back to Group Two races and go abroad.”Richard Edmondson’s Sunday nap: Blaze Away (Newbury 5.00); next best: Holtye (Newbury 4.30).. Young Ern has to take on the might of Newmarket here, but it is possible that one of the lesser lights at Headquarters, Chris Wall, will capture the event with Missed Flight.This race provides a watershed in the five-year-old’s season, and it appears there are two sealed envelopes containing future assignments based on what he does today.

He should.Dunlop also has prospects with Fanjica and Pesce d’Aprile in tomorrow’s Italian Oaks, one of only two Group One races in that country to have eluded him, but more pertinent to British punters is the Sunday card at Newbury, which features the Lockinge Stakes, for the first time a Group One contest.Proceedings in Berkshire have a touch of the country fayre about them with sky-divers and gymnasts on the agenda to suck in an audience. The Italian Guineas winner Prince Arthur apart, there are some quality animals competing, including his stablemate at Peter Chapple-Hyam’s yard, Spectrum, and the John Dunlop-trained pairing of Bahri and Nwaamis.The last two named will also advertise the quality of the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, which was hailed as a contest of the gods at the time, but is becoming more earthy by the day.Pipe Major’s poor run at York could be down to non-staying, but he is just one of several who have gone on from the Classic to cover themselves in something less fragrant than glory.If the Derby billing of Pennekamp and Celtic Swing as something close to King Kong v Godzilla is to have any credence, Bahri has to win at the Curragh tomorrow. It may be indicative of Ireland’s present power that the best colt in the country is called Humbel.This is not to say that their Classic lacks appeal. “If you play well, you can’t wait to get back on the lanes and, if you play badly, you want to get back on and sort it out I love bowling because it’s great for all the family It’s a game of rhythm and timing. The strength element is mostly mental.” He speaks from bitter experience.

His best score is 298, made by scoring eight on the final ball. “I couldn’t even see where it was going, I was so nervous.”The family found appearing on television far less intimidating. “We were a bit unlucky because we lost by one pin, two pins and four pins, otherwise we would have been at least second,” Jacquie said.But the season-long Tenpin League has already given them far more than their 15 minutes of fame. “As we got nearer the final, every time we walked down the high street, people would ask how we had done. Some teams that we had beaten earlier even came to support us,” Chris said.Daniel, who is getting married soon but has no plans to interrupt his tenpin career, was equally enthusiastic “In the final, we were treated like proper sportsmen We’re not used to that in tenpin.”. In terms of customer service, it’s Sweeney Todd day for Britain’s racing enthusiasts. The only turf that matters today, it seems, is the greensward that will accommodate Manchester United and Everton.