DonaldMcCain

It was very satisfying to seeing Peddlers Cross get the job done as he did at Bangor in the week and he has come back from the race in good nick.

He was obviously running against inferior horses but it was still hard not to be taken by the manner in which he went about it. It's not often you can say horses are foot perfect, especially on their chasing debut, but I couldn't find fault with him.

He was very relaxed and professional and he seemed to enjoy the experience - hopefully it will stand him in good stead going forward.

Having had a look through the programme book, I think he will go back to Bangor in three weeks time. It would be nice to try and get three runs into him before Christmas and the weather turns, so if all goes well at Bangor, there is a race for him at Haydock another three weeks later.

The more experience he can get before the spring the better but I am very happy with him so far.

He wasn't the only impressive winner we had last week though - albeit he was the highest profile. Both Sydney Paget and Agent Archie ran out ready winners of their respective races and look worth following in the coming months.

I have always thought a bit of Sydney Paget and he was an easy winner of a Carlisle bumper on Monday. That will be it for him in bumpers and I will be looking to get him out over hurdles sooner rather than later. He has schooled very well and does everything right at home, so hopefully he will make up into a smart performer.

I haven't had Agent Archie for that long but I thought he was quite impressive at Ludlow - A P [McCoy] got off him and said that he really liked his attitude which bodes well.

He jumped very well which is always a bonus with Flat recruits - now it is a case of establishing whether he is going to be a horse that needs a sharp track to be seen to best effect. His next run should reveal a bit more but so far so good.

That's the good news for the week out of the way - it hasn't all been so positive though. The whip issue isn't going away and although I don't want to get too bogged down in it, I was alarmed to see that the Stewards were now going to be allowed to use their discretion in marginal cases.

There were times last season where I felt we were being singled out unfairly and our jockeys were picking up bans in the north for rides that were going unpunished in the south.

It wasn't just me - other people had mentioned it to me - and when Jason [Maguire] got banned at Doncaster before the Cheltenham Festival, I let the Stewards know what I thought.

I suppose we are easy targets as we are always trying our best and don't stop horses so they tend to be in the firing line. Whatever the reason, I am genuinely concerned that these discretionary powers will cause problems.

I issued an upbeat bulletin on Jason Maguire last week and it was fingers crossed that he would be passed fit to ride by Dr Turner.

Despite his specialist giving him the all clear, it wasn't sufficient and he has to sit out the full 12-week period that is advised for the injury he had. He is still riding out and schooling, but I think he now has to wait until Hennessy week before he can get back on the track.

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