They could have dropped her for the race,like Julie..
For Emma Spencer, the glamorous face of Channel 4's flat racing coverage, it was simply asking too much.
Heading for the winner's enclosure was Britain's top female jockey Hayley Turner - the woman Mrs Spencer blames for wrecking her marriage.
Not only would she have to interview her supposed rival, but would also have to congratulate her on a 40-1 victory on Brunston at Newbury races.
Perhaps not surprisingly - off-camera and off-mike, of course - 31-year-old Mrs Spencer made it clear she was unwilling to do either.
And so, with just moments to spare, her co-presenter Mike Cattermole stepped into the winner's enclosure to replace her and conduct the interview.
Mrs Spencer is said to privately blame Miss Turner for the breakdown of her marriage to champion jockey Jamie Spencer, 29.
Until late last year, when they announced they were separating, the couple were regarded as the racing world's Posh and Becks.
Both children of racehorse trainers, they married in 2005 and have a son and two daughters, all under five.
Striking sportwoman: Hayley Turner is said to have gone back to Spencers marital home while Emma was away
New face of C4: But Emma Spencer said she did not want to interview winning jockey Hayley Turner
But their marriage is said to have run into trouble over Mr Spencer's friendship with Miss Turner, 27.
Both jockeys regularly ride out on the Newmarket gallops for Michael Bell, one of the Queen's racing trainers, and are said to have become close.
Matters are said to have come to a head when Mr Spencer reportedly took Miss Turner to the marital home while his wife was away. One racing insider said: 'There are ongoing tensions between the two women.'
A spokesman for Channel 4 confirmed that Mrs Spencer had declined to interview Miss Turner after she won the Berry Bros & Rudd Magnum Spring Cup on April 17 on 40-1 Brunston.
'Emma would prefer not to interview Hayley - it is in the interests of both parties to avoid any unnecessary tensions,' he said.
'Given the circumstances, we decided that Mike Cattermole would do the interview.'
The spokesman said it was not a unique problem within racing.
'Quite a few of our presenters have people they do not want to interview, be it owners, trainers or other connections,' he added.
'We work as a team so there is always someone else to do the interview.'
Miss Turner, a former joint champion apprentice, became the first woman jockey to ride 100 winners in a year in 2008 and has won several top sporting awards including Channel 4's Racing Personality of the Year.
Although the Spencers are living apart, Mr Spencer and Miss Turner are not said to be an 'item'.
A spokesman for Miss Turner declined to comment on what he called 'a private matter'.
Although Mrs Spencer refuses to interview Miss Turner says she is willing to speak to her estranged husband if, and when, he wins a race televised by Channel 4.
In an interview last month she said: 'I don't think it would be awkward interviewing Jamie. I would like to think I am professional and he is professional.
'We have three children and are on good terms ... I can't see it being a problem.'
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