Trainer Malcolm Jefferson was an angry man at Wetherby today despite a smooth win for his horse Tullymurry Toff.
Jefferson launched a broadside at the chase handicapper Phil Smith, a former schoolteacher, immediately after Tullymurry Toff swept to victory in the Monkton Chase.
"The treatment my horses and other trainers' horses are getting from the schoolteacher is nothing short of ridiculous," he said.
"Tullymurry Toff has already been raised 8lb twice and then he was put up another 3lb just for staying in his box.
"I just don't know what they are aiming at - maybe they are trying to get all the horses at the top of the handicap to try to improve the good races.
"The way things are going we might run out of options with Tullymurry Toff which is why I have entered him in the Gold Cup.
"He might be better off running at level weights rather than running in handicaps having to give away 2st."
Tullymurry Toff, back in action for the first time since falling in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in November, jumped soundly on this occasion.
Patiently-ridden by Graham Lee, he was pushed clear from the final fence to defeat Niki Dee by five lengths.
"People were saying he had no chance in the Hennessy when he fell but it was too far out to say that," said Jefferson.
"This win should have done him the world of good - and it's given me a lot of pleasure."
Norman Williamson was left winded and sore after being unseated from Macgeorge in this contest.
The Irishman - who is expected to resume tomorrow - was stood down for the remainder of the day.
His agony was compounded when his intended partner Arctic Camper secured the £22,000 Towton Novices' Chase.
With Adrian Maguire deputising, the 7-2 chance came through to lead at the second last and ran on well to defeat the 6-4 favourite Beau in the Grade Two contest .
"Norman was pretty sore before this race and will be even sorer now," said winning trainer Venetia Williams.
"He's done all the schooling with this horse and I feel sorry for him. But at least he was able to tell Adrian more about him than I could.
"It's a shame that there was such a poor turn-out for a race as valuable as this but I'm certainly not complaining.
"Arctic Camper is a talented horse and he'll be entered for the Sun Alliance Chase, but he's still got plenty to prove before Cheltenham."
Another handicapper - the man responsible for framing the weights in hurdles races - will no doubt be planning to take severe action after House of Dreams' triumph.
Tony Ross turned professional just 24 hours earlier and is unlikely to ride many easier winners.
Ross enjoyed an armchair ride as the 2-1 favourite strode home by 16 lengths from In Good Faith in the Benfield Ford Handicap Hurdle.
"Who knows what the handicapper will do now," said winning trainer Mary Reveley. "We're going to have to try to run him again under a penalty before he's reassessed."
Reveley was on the mark again when Busted Flat, carrying the colours made famous by Desert Orchid, secured the Mail On Sunday Hands 'n' Heels Handicap under Michael Naughton.
Former point-to-point winner Supreme Lad underlined his promise when defeating the odds-on chance Monica's Story in the EBF Novices' Hurdle.
But the runner-up was unlucky as she lost a considerable amount of ground when badly hampered by the fall of Native Caption four from home.
Joe McNamara, riding for trainer Chris Grant for the first time, produced a superb effort to score aboard Master Wood in the Wike Handicap Chase.
