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Sadly lost him at Sandown yesterday.
I read elsewhere that the jockey has been suspended for 8 days for not pulling him as it was deemed Hope Road was exhausted. This is the kind of thing that really annoys the hell out of me to say the least and I’m berluddy glad the stewards pulled the jockey in and punished him, i’d have thrown the book at him. Quite a needless fatality and easily avoided it seems.Such a shame about the horse, but regarding the jockey, i saw something similar at sandown today i think it was the jockey on Ballguleen in the 2.30 won by Meanus Dandy, the horse was clearly exhausted and about 6 or 7 lengths back,took 5 or 6 jumps before the jockey gave in,should of been pulled up a lot sooner.
Jockey was R P McLernon (3 lbs claimer) – is he connected to Jonjo O’Neill’s? He seesm to have ridden quite a few for him? I hope he is suitably ashamed and that anyone who uses him in the future is aware of this incident and will instruct him accordingly …
Richie McLernon is primarily attached to Jonjo’s yard and has rightly earned himself a burgeoning reputation as a go-to man for an effective hold-up ride, performing especially well around the likes of Towcester. Rides such as that on Saphir De Bois at Fontwell the other week prove that’s not the only string to his bow, though.
To the best of my knowledge he’s not exhibited any traits of pasting or asking a wholly unrealistic amount from an animal previously, so what on earth possessed him to drive on Hope Road in a futile and ultimately ill-starred cause defeats me completely. Unfamiliarity with the gelding on account of it being an outside ride? Maybe. Excusable on that basis? Emphatically not.
That was the first ride he’d picked up for Andy Haynes. I’m not sure too many more are going to follow after Friday’s injudicious act.
Rest easy, Hope Road.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Unfortunately, as far as i’m concerned, this is not the first time Mr McLernon has given a horse a rather, shall we say, questionable ride. I remember his ride on Mr Presley at Huntingdon. The horse clearly didn’t want to play ball right from the off, receiving very early and sharp reminders from Mr McLernon to move from a midfield position to a more up-front position, from which he proceeded to toil and struggle before dropping back to the rear, with no chance of making an impression on the leaders. I kept thinking all the way round, surely he will pull the horse up now, but he never did, he insisted on completing the course.
I was very suprised the stewards did not take him to task over this ride, but it looks as though a horse has to injure itself or worse before stewards will get tough on irresponsible riding.
I also don’t think an eight day ban is longing enough, not if Mr McLernon new the horse was struggling and it is hard to believe that he didn’t, most jockeys have it upstairs to know when a horse has had enough. So why did he cary on??
Makes me so angry to hear avoidable outcomes like this. Will be watching his following "Booked ride" very closely:-
Scaramouche at Huntingdon on Weds. Has been PU 4 times in last 6 outings and has had 10 different jockeys in 20 races………do hope this doesn’t have the same ending.
I’d like to see much longer bans for this, and some punishment for the trainer who ought to issue instructions to cover the situation, but then I’m still seething over the needless loss of Commercial Flyer last spring.
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