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I’d predict an unplaced finish, having adhered to precisely those instructions but having found the gelding’s stamina too wanting for the partnership to play a significant role.
A 10l third over Stratford’s near-3m4f trip (but sharper circuit) last spring shouldn’t kid anyone into thinking Pacha Du Polder is much of a stayer beyond 3m, as Will Biddick rode him that day as if stamina was an issue and got him absolutely as close as it was possible to. Barring a complete and utter (and unlikely) collapse of the pace up ahead, or alternatively (and equally unlikely) a total dearth of pace for the first couple of miles, I can’t foresee Pacha being bang there up the run-in; and that would have been the case even if a top amateur were up.
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.
A pity about Pacha’s stamina issues. From what I can see, last time was the first time he’s made the running and he seemed to enjoy it. The horse looks in very good heart and has plenty ability for this type of contest. I’m surprised Nicholls hasn’t told her to just go out an enjoy herself in front for as long as stamina holds out.
Her pace judgement at Wincanton didn’t look at all bad. In front is, arguably, the safest place to be for trouble-avoidance, though, I suppose, least safe if she does come off.
Anyway, it’s been great to watch her, for her love and enthusiasm for the game, apart from anything else.
And, having backed Current Event, I’m off now to lump on Jeremy’s tip Mr Mercurial!
Hope you didn’t lump too much, Joe…
Got that wrong, but perhaps a little less wrong than former jockeys x, y and z did on Ms P?
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.
Fair play to her. Other than not really pushing the horse she judged that race pace very well. Made the right decisions when to move forward and looked assured over the jumps. Only criticism would be if she had made more of an effort with the whip she might easily have got the win. But a very competent performance.
What a fantastic spin. She’s inexperienced, hasn’t got a polished finishing technique and was on a non stayer and finished in the frame. What a fantastic achievement. Makes one wonder what I’m waiting for!
Lack of experience told. I thought she should have moved him up a wee bit earlier and she obviously wasn’t as strong as the other jocks in the finish.
But it’s still a stunning achievement and I really hope this isn’t the end of her riding career.
With another year of experience for the jockey, surely a banker for next year!
....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
She had the perfect partner in PDP who measured his fences and probably appreciated the softly softly handling – the thing that surprised me was how steady they went early on, which along with the good ground probably helped PDP stamina in getting home.
Hope she continues on and comes back next year, ideally with PDP again – to think that just over a year ago she hadn’t even sat on a horse to today where she gave a polished performance is remarkable.
Hope you didn’t lump too much, Joe…
Got that wrong, but perhaps a little less wrong than former jockeys x, y and z did on Ms P?
gc
:) Fortunately not, and Pendo coming under orders paid a fair bit of the expenses at the 4/1.
When she sees that tape, she will dream of a ‘Mulligan’, though perhaps that just sitting quietly suited the horse nicely as LD mentioned. No question that with a bit more experience and the confidence to get busy in a finish she could have won that.
She never looked out of place – neat, safe and well balanced, and I hope the detractors at least give her grudging credit. One thing to take from the race is that PDP is in very good form indeed and worth following.
Press Association tweeted that special permission will be sought for her to ride at Aintree.
I give her great , and unbegrudged , credit for giving the horse a very good ride.
As far as riding a finish goes I thought she was balanced and tidy , was not bouncing in and out of the saddle and appeared to have a proper hold of the horses head. That is a basis for an assured progression to riding a good and strong finish. That’s not something I would accuse a lot of jockeys of. However , I confess to being a stick in the mud about technique as I had it drummed into me as an apprentice and God forbid we should ride a horse with a slack rein. Perhaps I should go no farther with that :-/
I’m sure she will go on to have more rides , P to P probably ( I don’t expect to see her going round Southwell or Haydock ) and she will have a lot of fun.John Francome wades in…
Steve Smith-Eccles’s intervention doesn’t count for much either, in my view; he forfeited any right to be consulted on matters of riding finesse the day he beat up Ballinrostig in a televised race at Newcastle.
November 23rd, 1991, if any of you have access to vintage footage or fancy throwing a wad of cash Racetech’s way. If not, or if you don’t remember the race, Smith-Eccles gave the then Denys Smith-trained chaser a ride for which the Post’s comments in running of “hard ridden from 3 out” is nothing of an overstatement. The gelding finished lame, and the jockey’s response when interviewed by Derek Thompson after was as unflinching in its delivery as the ride itself had been.
Ballinrostig didn’t race again for exactly two years, and pulled up on each of his first five comeback runs despite a kindly drop of 19lb during his absence. He never won again.
gc
Uploaded for review: https://youtu.be/sHNmmUJMzHU
....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
Felt the whole thing a bit schmaltzy, but anyone who has ever sat on a horse must realise how difficult it is, and I thought she performed magnificently today
Thought she was brilliant and hopefully the papers will be full of it tomorrow. I think Aintree is a step too far, though; won’t that be over the Grand National fences?
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