We have a totally separate board which manages SIS and we make our own decisions

"We have a totally separate board which manages SIS and we make our own decisions.''Ellis also said that year-on-year comparisons between betting profit margins at individual meetings could be deceptive. "Many things could have happened in the last 12 months to affect the margins,'' he said. "Maybe there's more competition on the racecourse now than there was 12 months ago, maybe the bookmakers are that little bit more experienced, maybe they had their fingers burned 12 months ago and they've learned since then.''In this analysis, the apparent increase in margins in the last year is simply a reflection of growing maturity in the betting rings, following a sudden influx of new blood to a previously moribund system less than two years ago. For a while, punters were in clover as new bookies competed desperately for a slice of turnover, but now the balance of power has started to shift in the opposite direction.Of more concern to off-course punters, however, is not the profit margin per runner in a 20-horse race, but the prices returned about the first two or three horses in the betting, the ones which most punters are on. It is these which the major off-course layers may now be in a better position to influence, and where attention should now focus if the interests of punters are to be defended.. This year's Amateur Boxing Association finals take place this evening at the Metrodome, Barnsley, with an odd line-up of new, old and unknown boxers, writes Steve Bunce. This year's Amateur Boxing Association finals take place this evening at the Metrodome, Barnsley, with an odd line-up of new, old and unknown boxers, writes Steve Bunce. The top English amateurs, like their counterparts from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, opted to miss the domestic championship in pursuit of Olympic qualification andEuropean Championship medals.

The survivors from four months of competition are still, however, a worthy group.One of the big losers because of international commitments has been the Repton club in London's Bethnal Green. Two boxers from Repton have so far qualified for the Olympics and three morewill try and gain places forJamaica and Barbados respectively at a tournament in Argentina later this month.The most eagerly anticipated bout will be at bantamweight between Martin Powers, from St Pancras, and Salford's Steve Foster Jnr, who boxes for Shannon's gym in Manchester.. Claire Phillips held the lead on Sirus when yesterday's first day of dressage was completed at the Windsor International Horse Trials. With a score of 43.4 penalties, she had an overnight advantage of 8.6pts over a bemused Lorna Wright, who had been hoping for a score in the 60s on Sundance Polly and could hardly believe that she was lying second with just 52 penalties. Claire Phillips held the lead on Sirus when yesterday's first day of dressage was completed at the Windsor International Horse Trials.

With a score of 43.4 penalties, she had an overnight advantage of 8.6pts over a bemused Lorna Wright, who had been hoping for a score in the 60s on Sundance Polly and could hardly believe that she was lying second with just 52 penalties. Phillips, who lives near Wrexham, makes regular journeys to Gatcombe where she receives help from Germany's former European champion, Bettina Overesch. "It's a two-and-a-half to three hours' drive, but it's well worth it," Phillips said after her excellent test.Wright, demoralised by poor dressage results, sought help closer to home from Tristram Owers. The 21-year-old (who is the same age as Wright) had amazed the eventing world by leading after the opening dressage day during his first ride at Badminton this month. "I've had about four lessons with Tristram and the mare has improved so much, she behaved beautifully today," Wright said.Earlier this month Phillips also had her first ride at Badminton, where she was lying 22nd after a clear round across country on Capuchin, but was then forced to withdraw because the horse had a corn. Whereas Capuchin was bred by the Phillips family, her Windsor mount, Sirus, was bought by them as a foal, sold as a five-year-old and bought back again last year when he was nine.Today Overesch, Phillips' trainer, who has been added to the German Olympic shortlist, will be attempting to overtake her pupil when she rides Woodsides Ashby in the dressage..

Russell Garcia's timely return to the Great Britain squad following a three-month ban will undoubtedly enhance the nation's prospects in the élite Champions' Trophy here. Russell Garcia's timely return to the Great Britain squad following a three-month ban will undoubtedly enhance the nation's prospects in the élite Champions' Trophy here. Garcia, suspended after a positive drug test for cocaine but who won his appeal against the British Olympic Committee's life ban, was not originally selected because of his lack of fitness. However, Brett Garrard's recuperation from a knee operation has ensured the recall of the midfielder, a gold medallist at the 1988 Olympics in South Korea.Britain, who struggled in qualifying for the Sydney Olympics in Osaka, Japan, will be short of match practice, having not played since that March tournament. They open their campaign against their Dutch hosts, the favourites to win their fifth Trophy, tomorrow.A significant absentee is the Atlanta Olympian Julian Halls, who appears to have been sacrificed to allow the return of the England captain, Billy Waugh, following a back operation.