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I’ve just watched Rupert Bear in the 1.00 at Wetherby and have to say that from a punting point of view I’m not terribly impressed by the tactics employed by Caroline Walton. It’s well known that the horse benefits from being held up and delivered late though on the last couple of occasions these tactics have been exaggerated to the point of being ridiculous. In fact on this occasion (and at Kelso in October) the race has been lost before they jump off as it seems the jockey is slow to react to what is going on around her and tends to be left behind very early on. Would it be more beneficial to have a more experienced jockey on board? I understand that Rupert Bear is a family run affair so by rights they can do what they want though from a betting point its frustrating!
How is it frustrating? You know who is jocked up before you choose to back it or not.
How is it frustrating? You know who is jocked up before you choose to back it or not.
My point ‘Peruvian Chief’ is that in Horse Racing its hoped that the jockey on board your horse has at least some basic tactical knowledge and learns from previous mistakes where they’ve been made. Based on todays race that wasn’t evident. The horse clearly has some ability though I doubt this will continue under current arrangements. Safe to say I’ve learned a lesson and won’t touch anything she is on in future! It might be useful if Miss Walton views Claire Hart’s jockeyship on Palypso De Creek in the very next race…
Ekbalco
Cathy Walton is a capable pilot and one of the more talented amateur riders on the Northern circuit. Rupert Bear had been held up at the back in all his previous five races and has won three of them. Holding him up on this occasion was no change of tactics, but for whatever reason he was totally off his game today. Horses aren’t machines and clearly something was amiss.
I do feel that Rupert Bear has reached his limit as a hurdler anyway and I’d like to see him go chasing. In general that has been where the Walton family’s strength has lain in the past.
Rob
Just seen the race Ekbalko. Did jump slow and high at the first and not that good throughout. Would not have figured however she’d ridden. But the point is before it was known for certain there wasn’t any possibility of running well – she made little or no effort early on to get her horse back to the field. Not until so far behind (in pulling up territory) did I see any noticeable action.
It’s not the first time Miss Walton has caught my eye. Remember thinking exactly the same as you Ekbalko. She rode Dystonia’s Revenge on the 18th Nov at Catterick. Supposedly a similarly difficult horse who apparently needs to be anchored well off the pace. This time no jumping excuses.
There is a big difference between "dropping out" for a late run, and allowing the horse to be so far off the pace (still at that point going well) and seemingly making no effort to get her mount closer. I remember thinking she’s a passenger, having no idea of what pace they were going. Yes, she’s only an amateur and yes, amateurs will make more mistakes than professionals; and yes, it is entirely up to connections who they get to ride… I am in no way against amateurs or women jockeys. Indeed I like backing them in races against professional jockeys as their mounts often go off tremendous value. I can accept mistakes or even poor rides. But even amateurs should be capable of a certain level of ability. The ride at Caterrick was imo incompetent at best and gave no chance of winning the way the race was run. Only way a horse can win with such tactics is if every other runner goes off far too quickly; so to come through when all others have cried enough. Even if they use it as "Plan A", if early pace is not absolutely "break neck", jockeys need to react and make some sort of effort.
Miss Walton is the only jockey I would not back at any price. There was a jockey a racing aquaintence used to call the "7 lb penalty", well there is now imo a "Stone penalty".
There is a BHA rule that jockeys (even amateurs) need to adhere to. Quite right too:
Rule (D)45 Running and Riding – Reasonable and Permissible Measures
The general requirement is that every horse must be ridden in such a way that the Rider can be seen to have made a genuine attempt to obtain from his horse timely, real and substantial efforts to obtain the best possible placing. It is not necessary to use the whip to satisfy this requirement but a Rider must give his horse at least a ‘hands and heels’ ride.I am not saying today or Catterick was deliberate. But how can stewards differentiate between a non-trier and some Walton rides? John Boy just as well ride.
Value Is EverythingEkbalco
Cathy Walton is a capable pilot and one of the more talented amateur riders on the Northern circuit.
The state of Northern racing must be dire then Rob.
Value Is EverythingWas at Alnwick Point-to-Point on Sunday. Catherine Walton rode a double, including on the one-time Kim Muir placee Galant Nuit (a win there – albeit only in an ownership capacity – for Ferdy Murphy, for whom Catherine works). Entirely capable, although there’s better elsewhere around the country.
Also spoke to Jimmy and Frankie Walton. They’d no idea why Rupert Bear stiffed on Saturday and weren’t too hopeful on Sunday as a result. In the event, they won a Restricted it was impossible to lose with Coquet Head (Catherine up again); and nearly landed an Open Maiden with Job For Eric, though this again was a very ordinary race of its type. Both races were won in deathly slow times.
Conclusion: the Waltons had a few out this weekend that probably weren’t 100% on top of their game, but did eke out a result or two in spite of their current form rather than necessarily because of it.
Two further things to note specifically about Rupert Bear:
1) His current mark of 117 exceeds his career-best RPR by 3lb. On that basis alone, he’s not really handicapped to win stuff now unless finding further improvement.
2) I’ve personally been surprised that there were any 2m-2m1f races to be won with him, especially via hold-up rides. Both his aunt and granddam were successful over 4m (the latter, Super Fountain, took the 1991 renewal of everyone’s favourite race, the Hexham four-miler in Cheltenham week), and it’s similarly going to be all about marathon distances with him when fully grown up – something which, even at seven years of age, I don’t believe he is yet.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Was at Alnwick Point-to-Point on Sunday. Catherine Walton rode a double, including on the one-time Kim Muir placee Galant Nuit (a win there – albeit only in an ownership capacity – for Ferdy Murphy, for whom Catherine works). Entirely capable, although there’s better elsewhere around the country.
Also spoke to Jimmy and Frankie Walton. They’d no idea why Rupert Bear stiffed on Saturday and weren’t too hopeful on Sunday as a result. In the event, they won a Restricted it was impossible to lose with Coquet Head (Catherine up again); and nearly landed an Open Maiden with Job For Eric, though this again was a very ordinary race of its type. Both races were won in deathly slow times.
Conclusion: the Waltons had a few out this weekend that probably weren’t 100% on top of their game, but did eke out a result or two in spite of their current form rather than necessarily because of it.
Two further things to note specifically about Rupert Bear:
1) His current mark of 117 exceeds his career-best RPR by 3lb. On that basis alone, he’s not really handicapped to win stuff now unless finding further improvement.
2) I’ve personally been surprised that there were any 2m-2m1f races to be won with him, especially via hold-up rides. Both his aunt and granddam were successful over 4m (the latter, Super Fountain, took the 1991 renewal of everyone’s favourite race, the Hexham four-miler in Cheltenham week), and it’s similarly going to be all about marathon distances with him when fully grown up – something which, even at seven years of age, I don’t believe he is yet.
gc
Fine post, sir, one of the best I’ve seen on here
Fine post, sir, one of the best I’ve seen on here
Thankyou Joe, very kind . Not really up to writing on here much at present with a number of non-racing issues occupying my time, but happy to have been able to throw in my tuppence worth on what I’d seen in a muddy field in Northumberland
.gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
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