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Bowen’s numbers are just getting more and more impressive, and are getting into APMc territory. I don’t think it will be too long before JP comes calling, but Murphy is more than capable of being Champion trainer, if bigger owners start using him. Nicholls and Hendo are no spring chickens and won’t be around forever.
I think the beret came a week late- surely it’s more of a Longchamp item, n’est ce pas. Not quite sure what Leona was wearing- the hat seemed to have escaped from a giant vegetable contest.
Joking aside, and whatever our views on the quality of punditry, it is good news that racing has a terrestrial TV partner for another 5 years, when there’s hardly any cricket, golf or boxing on BBC or ITV or C4/5 anymore.This is not a good look for the sport. The allegations against Mr Alexander come hot on the heels of the Vertek scandal and the jailing of Amer Andulaziz of Phoenix Thoroughbreds. When you add in that Sheikh Mohammed is persona non grata at British racecourses following the well-publicized comments of the High Court and the reporting of the Qatari regime’s treatment of workers prior to the World Cup, it’s pretty grim. Perhaps Lord Allen should examine thoroughly setting criteria for a fit and proper owners test. But it’s hard to bite the hand that feeds eh?
There aren’t words to express my admiration and respect for John Hunt and Amy Hunt in how they have borne this life-shattering disaster. They are truly amazing and inspirational people.
Their dignity and character contrast sadly with the recent behaviour of Oisin Murphy. I sympathised with him in 2022-3, for addiction , on a different level, is also a very difficult thing to suffer and one should’t rush to judgement of any fellow human. But we must also try our utmost to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them. Mr Murphy had a long period of time to seek help and really tackle his problems. Yet he has relapsed . Now if it was just a case of turning up at the races a little the worse for wear- on a single occasion – then folk would be very disappointed but not so angry, yet he crashed a car with a passenger in it. What if that passenger or a bystander had been killed- would his apologists be quite so forgiving ? How do we think people who have lost friends or family due to drunk drivers feel ?
If you read the BHA panel judgement of 2022 , the Chairman observed that Mr Murphy conveyed the impression that he regarded himself above the rules; That indicates a considerable degree of arrogance, which certainly lessens one sympathies, and you have to think that character flaw , augmented by his apparent inability to resist a drink, is at the root of everything.
He clearly needs help and that must be given, but I equally feel the professional and legal penalties must be severe .Not prison, that won’t solve his issues ,but a very significant ban ( 2 years plus), strict conditions as to rehabilitation therapy and interim testing, and a sizeable fiscal penalty (a proportion of which should be donated to a road accident victims charity) should be imposed . I also think he should withdraw from media interviews until the ban is served. There is still time to him to rebuild his career thereafter but the BHA have to take a firm line.Highs- Attendances – glorious weather- super competitive racing (Cheltenham please note)- Gosden’s fantastic three – Murphy, the Doyler and Shoemark showing it’s not all about the mighty Moore- Ed Walker showing he belongs at the top table- Graffard and Zahra Khan showing true sportmanship- Walsh and Rishi Persad being consummate pro’s
Lows- No Princess of Wales presenting trophies – hope she’s alright- Letting a Stewards Cup winner go unbacked in the Wokingham- Seeing Harvey in a swimming pool -Having to put up with Charlotte & (especially) Mark- I have no problem with the fashion/celeb filler spots- just find someone less annoying.
Proper sprint race that- Lazzat really impressed me but it would be great to see the first two clash again at Newmarket. It would be interesting to see if connections of Noble Champion and Time for Sandals are tempted to have a go as well. Eclipse is shaping up to be a cracker as well- especially if Calandagan and Sosie come over from France.
For me this is why the Flat has the edge- every decent jump horse is aimed at Cheltenham but once Ascot is over there are still some huge prizes to aim at, across EuropeI keep saying it- but Calandagan and Zarigana need a better jockey- Senor Catalonia just doesn’t galvanise them in a finish-his whip hand is all over the place- no driving rhythm.
Falakeyah was touted by all and sundry (inc Segal) but the time at Newmarket wasn’t that special and she beat nowt. Could still be a Nassau contender but Desert Flower and Lake Victoria are much better. Understudy was the most interesting filly of the week- going from a Southwell C5 maiden to 2nd in a Ribblesdale. One to follow in races like the Lillie Langtry and Park Hill and the Fillies and Mare turf here in the Autumn.Would love to see Lazy Griff win the Leger and “do it for Yorkshire” as Sean Bean would say.
The Irish Derby could be a good race if people prepared to take Lambourn on.Stay True from that stable would be an interesting challenger and Tennessee Stud and Hotazhell useful home based runners. Delacroix should probably stick to ten furlongs and I don’t know what they do with the Lion. I think the two Beckett challengers should go again- Pride of Arras was too bad to be true, and he might do an Auguste Rodin on an easier track. Detain would be an interesting supplement for Juddmonte (though they have Purview) and Almeric and Bay City Roller two possible UK wildcards . Lazy Griff, Cualificar, Ridari and New Ground should be set for a very good battle in the Grand Prix de Paris.
Derby thoughts; A very muddling race. The Dante form couldn’t possibly be that bad – let’s not forget Wimbledon Hawkeye was beaten 6 lengths in the Guineas and then 3 in the Dante, and Royal Playwright ran okay in a group 3 yesterday. For Pride of Arras to finish 50 lengths behind the winner is unfathomable, even allowing for the usual ground/trip/didn’t handle the track excuses.
Ruling Court being taken out took the gloss off the race , though I understand why Appleby, especially after Desert Flower’s run.
I’m not convinced Lambourn is that good – he could be another ROTW or Wings of Eagles but let’s see. It might be that the best British colt turns out to be a gelding (Amiroc) but Lazy Griff ran really well and the Gosdens may now think it worth trying Detain over 12 furlongs .
Another AOB win but Lazy Griff would have been a far better story for the sport. Complete domination by one trainer puts people off, as we’ve seen with Mullins.Give the others a chance Aidan please !
As for the dire attendance- No mystery after I looked at the prices – £72 for the Grandstand and £45 to go on the infield- That’s ridiculous- Charge a tenner for the hill (kids free) and Grandstand tickets at £40-50 (kids free) – discount packages for students . You will have the place full again. In other words, JCR- don’t be such money grabbing b*s. You can have all the FA Cup ball draws you like, but the good folk of Epsom won’t pay over £100 to take the family and then pay another £100+ to feed and water them- it’s not rocket science.Despite some naysayers on here, I think this is a really interesting Derby and could unearth a very good horse. For a traditionalist, it’s great to see two French entries, especially one in the colours of the late Aga Khan. The winners of all the key trials are in there, there’s a potential Triple Crown bid on the line and we’ll probably get 16 runners or more. What’s not to like ?
It’s been more a decade since the Classic double was last done, so the time is ripe for Ruling Court to hold sway. Field of Gold’s Curragh demolition job shows the Guineas form is rock solid. Two horses in last 30 years have won the Dante on their second start, and one of them won at Epsom (Desert Crown) so Pride of Arras is a big big danger.
Delacroix will be thereabouts but Fame and Glory and Broome weren’t quite good enough to win at Epsom after doing the Leopardstown trial double and I think he will perform similarly. The Lion is not a Group 1 winner like the last 2 winners so I can’t see recent history repeating itself again , particularly as AOB appears to favour Delacroix .
Of the outsiders, look out for the Green Team runners in the extra place market- they have an incredible record for getting horses in the first 5 at huge odds.Will Juddmonte sack Murphy for losing the Poulains by a head ? No, I thought not – but then the Baldings aren’t whingers
He was desperately unlucky there. She did drift off to the left but Exactly didn’t run straight either. Home town stewarding – sorry messieurs but nous can’t let les Brits and les Irlandais win both our classics- especially with the late Aga’s family having the favourite.
Glad to say push-back against the Gosdens. I think TG is a lot to do with it as John never used to be a lot more dignified when things went wrong. RM, like anyone, makes the odd mistake but I have never heard Aidan O’Brien criticise him, ever. Reminds me of Ambiente Friendly last year- they sacked Callum Sheppard and the horse hasn’t won since -karma might see the same happen to Field of Gold (of course it go the other way- Dancing Brave won everything after they replaced Starkey with Eddery). My preference would be Rossa Ryan- he’s won Juddmonte an Arc so he’s already delivered for them.
Anyone know if Fred Done is paying out the 2 mill bonus on a fillies Triple Crown ? Because this filly can be another Oh So Sharp i’m telling you.
Lots of pocket talk on various forums about Shoemark. That wasn’t a terrible ride – Buick got first run but it was fractional – yes he was caught on heels just at a key moment and should have been nearer the pace but plenty of other jockeys will make a similar mistake and not get called the worst jockey ever just because they’re not the skint Italian. As for the trainer he’s got form for slagging off jockeys and should remember the Alex Ferguson adage- keep it behind closed doors. If you wanted more pace in the race that’s down to you Johnno- run a pacemaker. Remember what old Sir Henry did with Bullet Train.
On a positive note Ruling Court will go to the Derby and who knows he might have a crack at taking 2 mill off Fred Done. A Triple Crown attempt- now that would be something.
