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Can’t see Nicholls jettisoning Walsh as his main man. Currently he has the best of both worlds; Walsh rides his best horses and he has the excellent Sam Thomas in reserve as well. Why appoint Thomas as stable jockey, meaning you lose your class act Walsh. Makes no sense. Nicholls is in a great position having two classy jockeys at his disposal.
Accordnig to RP online Ruby stays loyal to Hedgehunter, rejecting Nicholls’ attempts to lure him onto Turko.
I just wonder if this will add to the school of thought that Nicholls needs a truly retained No.1 stable jockey next season? And presuming Walsh will never reject Mullins completely, the job should therefore be offered to Sam Thomas.
Why would Nicholls want to change something that has enabled him be so successful over the last few seasons?
JohnJ.
Richard Johnson is going to ride Turko
I also wonder who, from the BBC, wil be asking Ruby why he chose the wrong horse!!
And I thought I’d read Andy Stewart saying he wouldn’t run if he couldn’t get a top jockey.
It would be very interesting if Mr Pointment or indeed Turko now go and win minus Walsh. It would certainly show Ditcheat can win the top races without Ruby.
In fairness, that has already been proved this season
Also, there is nothing to say that Hedgehunter won’t finish in front of Turko anyway. The horse had a very interrupted prep for last season’s race and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him placed this year again.
Any objective owner should understand why Ruby should stay loyal to a Grand National winner who he shares a great affinity with as opposed to riding a 6 year old with no chance of winning lumping 11 stone 10 around Aintree.
I would be surprised if any owner or trainer of note would be miffed in such a situation, as with Dunwoody on West Tip still room for a bit of sentiment in our great sport.
Unless you as an owner has a retained rider ie. Wylie & O’Regan, you can’t have any complaints about a stable jockey not riding your horse. PN is gonna run about 4 so someone has to lose out.
Can’t see what the fuss is about amateurs and all sorts of weird jocks have won the National. If it’s any good it’ll win if it’s not it won’t even with JC riding
Can’t see what the fuss is about amateurs and all sorts of weird jocks have won the National. If it’s any good it’ll win if it’s not it won’t even with JC riding
Well after fasting for 40 days and nights, He’d be able to do the weight anyway!
Good one David.
And smart words from Anzum too…
Was thinking about making Hedgehunter a possible bet even before I heard Ruby was definitely on board.
At around 33 on Betfair, I think he has to be value. An incredible record on the track and with the compressed nature of the race this year, he only has to give a stone or so to the bottom weights…
Any objective owner should understand why Ruby should stay loyal to a Grand National winner who he shares a great affinity with as opposed to riding a 6 year old with no chance of winning lumping 11 stone 10 around Aintree.
Exactly – Hedgehunter is among the likelier ones to get Ruby round in one piece of all the horses he could have plumped for, and he enters the race on the back of recording his best RPR since the 2006 National last time out. There may be sentiment attached to the decision, but it’s not at the total expense of reason.
There’s plenty of fight left in the old boy, and as disraelite points out, the compacted weights won’t do his cause any harm, either.
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.
MP you did this subject at Cheltenham time. It gets monotonous
…and invidious.
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.
I dare say with it being the 40 runner Natiional, Nicholls may now struggle to get a top flight pilot as they will all be booked.
Johnson and Thomas already appear to be booked, and whilst the remainder arguably constitute lesser talents, I don’t think Nicholls would be too upset if he add to enlist the services of any of Joe Tizzard, Liam Heard, Nick Scholfield, Tom Greenall or even – if she is qualified – Rachel Green (remember that Polly Gundry would have ridden Torduff Express a few years back but got stranded in position 41 on the list).
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.
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