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No, not Jim, Sean.
After singing Nico’s praises recently, he has a fine adversary in this young fella who’s already the image of his old man (it took me fifty years before I could be mistaken for my dad).
Great rides on both his winners today – especially the first one: his strength, balance and cool head in the finish (no hurried whip switch – he took his time to get it right while still encouraging the horse) was admirable.
In the chase, he settled Virak pretty early, let the horse do his own thing at most of the fences, where going short seemed to be Virak’s preferred option. He asked him up seriously just twice and got great jumps. He was preparing to ask him again at the last when he saw or sensed the horse wanted to go short, again. I don’t know if his GN mount has any real chance, but I’ll add it to my list of savers. If there’s to be another National fairytale, it might be the kid on his way up rather than the champ on his way out.
I was surprised to hear AP’s negative response when N Luck asked him about the quality of young jockeys. He kind of started back-pedalling a bit, but the damage was done imo and all in all he seemed in something of a sour mood in general. God knows he could be forgiven that with an unwanted retirement looming and everyone wanting a piece of him. I suspect the demons are going to be with him an awful long time.
Ahh, having switched off the TV and checked the RP, I see the kid had a treble, and all races at Haydock were won by conditionals. AP must have been even more red-faced after racing!
Of the young jockeys Bowen seems that rarity, a UK talent ready-made for the top echelon of jumps racing. Horses clearly ‘go’ for him and he seems to have all the attributes.
As for AP – he’s entering what will probably be a very diffcult (and dangerous) period of his life psychologically.
No, not Jim, Sean.
I was surprised to hear AP’s negative response…. all in all he seemed in something of a sour mood in general.
Super, smashing, great, you can’t beat a bit of Bully.
As for AP, he’s probably cracking under the pressure of the thought of riding a 3/1 Favourite in the Grand National
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Another big winner for Jamie Bargary on Hollow Blue Sky as well. I place him far above Bowen for riding intelligence and brute strength. Hopefully Nigel Twiston-Davies allows him to take a few better outside rides as he loses his claim.
I see steeplechasing wastes no opportunity at knocking AP even in a thread praising another young jockey. All his posts on this thread include little digs at AP as he did when AP announced his retirement. Telling us he wasn’t as good as he once was and had deteriorated significantly these last couple of years thus forcing his retirement.
No praise is good enough for AP and what he has done for racing. Even selflessly announcing his retirement in advance for the benefit of the sport.
It may disappoint some but I have it on very good authority that although it will obviously a wrench to stop riding he is very comfortable and relaxed with the decision and has no regrets.
As for him getting withdrawal symptoms, forget them, he will be too busy.
Agree with you yeats I don’t know AP but someone close to him told me “he is looking forward to retirement”.Obviously young Bowen is a star and a couple more youngsters look OK but I think the standard outside of half a dozen young riders is abysmal, compared to the flat.
I find backing winners and making a long term profit enough of a challenge without getting into the pointless exercise of trying to read the minds of people who are retiring – is there even an “Is McCoy happy today?” market? Lol
He seemed poker faced and rushed when I asked him to pose for a photo with my son at Newbury recently but to his credit the fella was polite and did it – same for loads of other people – and I take as I find and I think he is a decent bloke who bites his lip a lot as his time is just not his own on a racecourse – everyone wants a piece of him.
Ditto Aidan O’Brien and Nick Luck in similar circumstances incidentally.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I agree with that Ian, but on a day like today even looking for winners is a waste of time (jumps that is) at this time of the year even horses that are not quite right are still run with instructions take care of the horse, at best you might lose a pound or two off the handicap at worse you have months for the horse to recover.
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