Spare Parts denied big Good Friday opportunity Phil McEntee was left disappointed after Spare Parts was denied his last realistic chance of claiming an eighth win of the all-weather season on Good Friday at Lingfield. McEntee had hoped to run in the apprentice riders' handicap that opens the card, but that race was oversubscribed and Spare Parts now runs in the Sun Bets All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes instead. As the apprentice contest does not form part of the actual All-Weather Championships itself, horses who have not been running through the winter can contest the race - a situation which McEntee admits "leaves a bitter taste". "It's very frustrating, especially when three of them haven't set foot on the all-weather all winter and another three have only had one run apiece," said McEntee. "Clearly these trainers are using this race as a prep run for something on the turf and that leaves a really bitter taste. "I kept hoping we might sneak in, but we haven't. I don't blame connections, clearly the entry conditions are the problem." McEntee says he raised the issue previously, but publicly voiced his concerns about the entry conditions recently and Lingfield's owners, Arena Racing Company, admitted it was a mistake on its part. "The issue I have is that I thought I'd addressed this last year as we had another who was balloted out when there were horses who hadn't run on the all-weather all season running," said McEntee. "Because I'd raised it with both ARC and the BHA, I didn't even look at the conditions as I'd assumed they been changed. It's annoying and frustrating. People like (owner) Steve Jakes and I have supported the all-weather all season and then guys turn up on the day, it just seems unjust. "We're now running in the Mile race which is a stupid thing to do, but I'll guarantee he won't be last , but that's not the point. It's a celebration for our yard and our horse who has had a great winter "He might have been last at Southwell (on Tuesday), but that was our opportunity to get one up on Captain Lars. Nicola (Currie) knew after three furlongs he hated the surface so just used hands and heels. He's got the constitution of an ox. "It's not nice to think my last two runs of the campaign are going to be the disappointment of yesterday and the run in the Mile. That's not how we wanted to finish, but hopefully he'll go out in front of a big audience on ITV and people will remember how much he has improved. "He started with us off 49 and is now rated 90, which is what he'll hopefully be remembered for." Spare Parts and Captain Lars, who runs at Newcastle on Friday, are currently locked together in the battle to be crowned the all-weather's winning most horse, a title which carries a 10,000 pounds prize. Both horses have won seven races and secured an identical amount of placings.
