The controversial deal between Go Racing and the BHB looks like collapsing after a crunch meeting between both parties failed to reach an agreement over the use of pre-race data.

As a result, the £307m ten-year deal with 49 courses looks like falling through.

The BHB would not specify to Go Racing the price it would charge for use of its runners and riders etc.

If the deal is not salvaged, the BHB will be severely criticised for throwing away more than £200 million of new money into an industry needing an uplift.

If the deal does fall through the future of racing looks bleak and everyone involved pull must pull out the stops to ensure the deal goes through.

Galileo was mighty impressive in beating Two Thousand Guineas winner Golan in last week's Derby.

He's being talked about as the best Derby winner since Nijinsky. There weren't many runners, so it's hard to say how strong the race was.

Aidan O'Brien's charge now heads for the Irish Derby - where he'll take some beating. We'll have a clearer picture then of just how great a champion has emerged.

Royal Ascot next week sees some top class racing. The winners will be hard to find - but Nuclear Debate may be worth a bet in the Kings Stand. He'll be ridded by Gerard Mosse, who will hopefully ride him better than Yaki Take did at Sandown recently when he finished third.

British jockey David Harrison has arrived back in Britain after fall in Hong Kong. He's been treated in Stoke Mandeville Hospital for neck and spinal injuries. Hopefully make a full recovery and we wish him well.

Today sees John O'Groats run in the William Hill Trophy at York. He is in great form and will run well but it's a very competitive race so we'll be happy with a good performance, especially as he's not well drawn at 21. The middle appears to be the place to be.

Tomorrow sees Mungo Park at Salisbury, a race in which he was second last year. He's got Kieron Fallon on board, just like last year. With Mungo, it's hard to know what mood he's going to be in. He'll decide if it's his day or not.

Northern Echo didn't stay the 17 furlongs at Pontefract, so it's back to a mile and a half or a mile and three quarters from now on. He's one-paced so we'll probably make the running with him next time.

AL Azhar and Jeffreyanotherred may be out at Thirsk on Monday, ground permitting, and both should run well.

Column Published: 16/06/01