Tattenham Corner

Del Mar stages a duel after a failed romance Racing For Change will be watching events in California on Sunday evening with interest. In a match race billed as the Battle of the Exes, jockeys Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland will take each other on at Del Mar racecourse. The duo, two of America's leading riders, dated for six years and were briefly engaged but there is seemingly no love lost now. "There is something about Mike, he is so competitive, that just makes you want to kick his butt," said Sutherland. It would be fascinating to see if a similar event in Britain, where several jockeys have fallen out after enjoying close friendships, could ever take off. The real McCoy Racing was predictably well-represented at last weekend's royal wedding although BBC news producers on the Saturday night evidently did not recognise their Sports Personality of the Year, Tony McCoy, who was named as Kieren Fallon on an evening bulletin. As well as McCoy, the Grand National-winning rider Carl Llewellyn attended the celebrations along with Channel 4 racing presenter Alice Plunkett, while Zara Phillips's maid of honour, Dolly Maude, is the wife of jump jockey-turned-valet Chris Maude. Photograph is bad news for Joey Barton Away from his bizarre activity on Twitter, Joey Barton at least had racing to keep his mind off events at Newcastle United last week. Barton's horse My Body Is A Cage, named after an Arcade Fire song, was beaten in a photo-finish on his debut on Thursday. The two-year-old is conditioned by the well-built Newmarket handler Peter Chapple-Hyam. "Joey's training on his own at the moment and I might just join him!" quipped Chapple-Hyam. Tyre change for Bernie Ecclestone The owner of Petara Bay, the winner of a handicap at Goodwood last Saturday, could not be present to pick up his special prize as he was helping to supervise proceedings at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The horse, a half-brother to King George winner Nathaniel, is owned by Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, who will be thrilled to have received a voucher towards some new tyres from the Goodwood race sponsor, Toyo Tires. Road rage for Kirby Adam Kirby appeared none too happy upon his arrival at Brighton on Wednesday. Kirby had driven to Sussex from Newmarket only to find that trainer Brett Johnson had withdrawn his only remaining ride without telling him. After being involved in an exchange of choice words in front of onlookers, the jockey had plenty of time to make his way to Kempton's evening meeting where he at least rode a winner.