Racing: Hodges whips up a row

Fergal Lynch yesterday refused to comment after being accused by a trainer of leaving "disgraceful" whip marks on a filly he rode at Windsor on Saturday evening.

Ron Hodges said his Marion's Pet had was "very stiff and very bruised" yesterday morning after being ridden by Lynch. Marion's Pet (50-1) finished a well-beaten 11th of 14 in a two-year-old seller.

Hodges reported the jockey to the Windsor stewards and an inquiry is scheduled for Thursday. The trainer added: ``It was unnecessary - I told him she was very green and there was no instruction about being hard on her. The bruising on her stifles was disgraceful when I showed her to the vets. She never had a chance of winning but she half ran away with him going to the start and I think he lost his temper.''

Lynch would not be drawn yesterday. "I have absolutely no comment to make - speak to Reg Hollinshead," he said.

Hollinshead, to whom Lynch was apprenticed, defended the jockey after watching a recording of the race. "I have just watched the video and from what I've seen there wasn't much to make a meal about."