Alan York, an amateur steeplechase rider, is riding in a race with his best friend, Bill Davidson, riding a horse called Admiral. Davidson and Admiral are the heavy favorites in the race; a “dead cert” to win. But Admiral trips over a fence, coming down on Davidson. York saw something suspicious just before his friend fell and he discovers that a wire has been stretched across the top of the jump, causing the horse to stumble and fatally injure Davidson. But by the time York can get the scene examined, the wire has been removed and there is no evidence that the horse was deliberately tripped. York begins his own investigation and finds that someone has been attempting to fix races – and now he’s the target of a vicious gang. But he wants revenge and to hell with the risk!