Racing: Hard To Figure fails by a neck

EVERGREEN SPRINTER Hard To Figure is booked for another attempt to win the claimer named after him following a narrow defeat in his own race at Bath yesterday.

The 12-year-old, trying to win for the 18th time in a 123-race career, was beaten a neck by Mick Channon's Cauda Equina. Ron Hodges, his trainer, said afterwards: "We'll just have to come back next year and try to go one better.

"He ran a good race and, as always, tried his old heart out; it's just a shame he could not win his own race, but that's the way it is. He's been a really good servant to the yard and I wish we had a few more like him."

Channon reckoned Cauda Equina was not winning out of turn, and added: "If ever there was a race set up for one horse that was it, but my fellow deserves to get his head in front."