BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith seems to have split the jury over his statistical review of the historical ratings of the best Flat horses in the last 35 years.
But he has revealed ambitions to delve even further back into the historical Flat ratings as well as trying to work on the ratings of legendary steeplechaser Arkle in an attempt to create a more valid comparison between the Irish great and recently retired Kauto Star.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Frankel was now the benchmark for modern equine excellence after he was allotted a rating of 140 with Dancing Brave, the 1986 Prix de L'Arc De Triomphe hero, having had seen his career figure downgraded from 141 to 138.
The lowering of the ratings for a clutch of all-time greats prompted some calls that Smith was 're-writing history.'
Smith's three-month review only went as far back as 1977 when the International classifications started. But, it seems, he has ambitions to go back even further with his statistical research.
Ruby Walsh on Kauto Star pullls clear on their way to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup Arkle, ridden by Pat Taaffe, wins the SGB Handicap Steeple Chase at Ascot on 1966
That could result in Smith compiling a set of figures which he would argue would be more valid basis of comparisons for horses like Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef and, potentially, even as far back as legends like 1965 Arc and Derby winner Sea Bird.
Smith said: 'It is something I would love to do when I have more time. This particularly project has taken me three months. To start to go back to 1976, 1975 and 1974 is definitely an aim and I will do it at some point.
'I also want do some work on Arkle and compare him to Kauto Star. That's a retirement project.'
IT has been a tradition at International Classification press conferences for the handicappers to give their horses to follow for the forthcoming Flat season.
Two-year-old assessor Matthew Tester has shown himself particularly adept at pinpointing a future star. This week Tester picked out Charlie Hills-trained 1,000 Guineas hope Just The Judge as his tip for the top but he did not confine himself to an equine prediction.
He predicted a big future for Robert Tart, the 7lb-claiming apprentice based with trainer Alan Bailey, who has picked up three of his seven career wins this month.
Tester said: 'If he is not a future top jockey, I'll be very surprised.'
DERBY winning Newmarket trainer Michael Bell announced his engagement to Holby City actress Clare Swinburne this week, the pair having met when Bell's horse Piccadilly Line spent time at a livery stable run by Clare.
The horse did not look the quickest conveyance when seventh of 10 on his debut in a Newbury bumper on Wednesday and royal trainer Bell will be hoping for a better show when he has a rare runner in one of the biggest contests of the National Hunt season back at the Berkshire track next month.
Bell has entered The Betchworth Kid in the Betfair Hurdle, who finished fourth to Recession Proof in the 2011 race when trained by Alan King.
Bell, the original trainer of seven-time winner The Betchworth Kid, welcomed the gelding back to his stable last year, winning a race at Salisbury in October.
The team of British Horseracing Authority handicappers had their AGM on Wednesday when one of the topics under discussion was probably who was going to take on the work of one of their number, Australian Greg Pearson, who has just made an internal BHA job switch to become a stipendary steward.
Madness are the first band to be confirmed on Sandown's summer music nights, being booked to perform on Wednesday 17 July.
A way to beat the blues? In an interview with Jockeytv.net this week, former England, Liverpool and Newcastle soccer player Terry McDermott, currently assistant manager with Birmingham City conceded he often watches his DVD of wins by Intersky Falcon, the dual winner of Kempton's Christmas Hurdle which he used to co-owns, to put a smile back on his face.
The gelding, who was trained by Jonjo O'Neill, is living out his retirement with one of his former riders, Liam Cooper, who now works as a farrier in Cumbria.
