Racing: Berry filly sparks Club investigation

The running of Hillside Girl, who drifted alarmingly in the betting before being pulled up soon after the leaving the stalls in the novice auction stakes at Carlisle yesterday, has been referred to the stewards of the Jockey Club for further investigation.

Alan Berry's filly, on whom Paul Bradley deputised for Franny Norton, who is ill, drifted on course from 2-1 to a starting-price of 6-1, and was being offered at 14-1 on the betting exchanges for the race, which was won by the David Nicholls-trained Skyharbor.

The stewards inquired into the circumstances of Hillside Girl's performance in the presence of Berry, Bradley, Douglas Pringle, a Jockey Club Investigating Officer and the veterinary surgeon. Bradley said that the filly felt lame as soon as she had jumped out of the stalls, but having heard from the Investigating Officer that there had been irregular betting patterns on the exchanges, the stewards referred the matter to Portman Square.

Berry said: "The horse is lame on her near-fore, both vets saw her on the course and in the vets' box. She was grand before the race and went to post all right, it must have happened in the stalls or just after she came out. She did not know what price she was."