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perhaps there’s more to racing than punting – these races take us back to the roots of steeplechasing – however, I do think that the course should be made easier for the jockeys to negotiate and it seems unfair to pick up bans when mistakes happen…some pretty experienced jocks have got lost havn’t they…
I’ve had a good look at my earlier post, GC, and try as I might I can’t see that I put up any argument for having a selling hurdle at the Festival.
You didn’t, nor was I implying as much – I was making the point that holding up the cross-country race as an example of a race too bad for Cheltenham (and the Festival in particular) does not necessarily hold up next to some of the other fare the course has offered historically.
The news that several top jockeys refuse to ride over the cross-country track for fear of taking the wrong course and getting a ban says it all, for me.
I read that article as well and regarded it as a bit of a cop-out on the named jockeys’ parts. A less generous colleague of mine suggested it was a tacit admission by those jockeys that they’re too thick to memorise the course; and whilst I’m definitely sure that I would not go that far, it does nevertheless seem a bit odd to me for them to becoming increasingly reticent to ride round an increasingly familiar course nowadays.
Consider that the layout of the track and the distance of all races over it (3m7f) have both been settled for many years now, following several experiment with smaller loops, 3m1f races, etc in the early days. Even without riding in the race for a while, therefore, I would have thought that a reasonably consciencious study of the course as it currently stands on videotape is likely to count as an adequate enough preparation for a gaffe-free ride round.
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.
A sound decision by connections imo, enjoy your retirement Spot you were magnificent.
Your being very hard on the fences Gus, they helped to create a legend.
Gus you are wasting your time, there are those that are wearing the NH goggles in here, those same people that talk down about the AW racing but at the same time talk up cross country races and hunter chases.
It will only be when they introduce the rings of fire into cross country circus races that they’ll sit up and notice
Gus you are wasting your time, there are those that are wearing the NH goggles in here, those same people that talk down about the AW racing but at the same time talk up cross country races and hunter chases.
I seem to remember arguing a case for the retention of Southwell’s Fibresand surface the other month. There’s room for all modes and types of racing on the calendar, and I do mean all.
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.
Nice comeback, Jim!
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.
This is the best news I’ve heard in ages, what a relief! Let’s hope he enjoys his retirement although I can’t see him being the sort of horse that’s going to be happy stuck in a field for the rest of his days. There’s plenty of life in him yet.
He’s been so exciting to watch over the last few years, I shall miss him.
Surely the Cross Country race isn’t much different to the courses eventing horses run on?
Looks like Garde Champetre is being lined up to fill the void left by Spot’s retirement starting with this Friday at Cheltenham.
Mind you he’ll need to win some races to recoup some of his purchase price from when JP bought him a couple of years back.
Bitterly disappointing for Jonjo so it will be interesting to see if the Cross Country king Enda Bolger can weave his magic again with him.
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