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In my opinion anything that has James Willoughby in it can safely be ignored, can’t stand the man
I’m regularly amazed at the frequency of vitriol targeted towards James on forums such as these.
Disagree with his soundly based analysis of horse form – no problem, and I’d even be convinced if you are able to match and counter argue his reasoning in an equally learned fashion.
I’m afraid it’s put downs and personalised attack such as the one from Phil Walker that annoy me, and yes make me switch off from TRF for spells.Just read this, and if you don’t utter ‘you’re a better man than me, Gunga Din’ at the end, well………….
http://thefiguresneverlie.blogspot.com/2011/02/gaps-in-my-story.html
JP McManus is a modern day philanthropist. The majority of his horses in training in Ireland provide much of the Irish NH industry with the basics (horses and training fees) for so much employment.
This should be lauded.
Of course he also has top class horses with top class trainers – for example Roche, Nicky, Jonjo (well, some at least) – to aim at the best prizes.
Let’s not assume to know JP’s innermost thoughts and ideals…..
Yes, just finished watching Sedgefield that I’d recorded today. The commentator was excellent – David Fitzgerald. Given his style, he will be even more enjoyable (or the races will) at the track.
No. 1 with a bullet!!!Also the first time I’d seen/heard the young ATR Presenter – Martin Kelly. Breath of fresh air from ATR, and much more eloquent and knowledgeable than the current incumbent.
Two in one day from ATR. Now, about that Luke Harvey………..
I’m slightly concerned about the timeframe in which the BHA :
– received the tip-off
– Striking Article’s racecourse appearance(s)
– the tragic Musselburgh race
– the instruction to carry out a post-mortem
– the post-mortemI mean, surely the BHA could not have received the tip-off (regarding the neurectomy) whilst the horse was in training?
Could they…….
I hope Graham Wylie, who has invested so significantly in the sport, will continue to have horses trained in the North (plenty great trainers Mr W – you might want to consider L.Russell, K.Dalgleish and J. Ewart to name but three of many).
David
Like you David, I’m astounded at the stance Graham Wylie has taken when questioned what he’s doing next. I mean, totally dismissing the concept of his horses being trained in the North (of Britain that is). He obviously has an axe to grind somewhere.
McCain, Russell, Murphy have excellent facilities but there are also numerous fine yards dotted around his native Hawick.
What a boost for the Borders if he would put 20 or so horses back into that community. But as with the current staff at White Lea, this seems to be furthest from his thoughts. Although, strangely enough, it doesn’t stop him raiding these same communities to bolster his charity work.Oh, and David, I wouldn’t be relying on James Ewart being so prominent this coming season………..
You know, several weeks ago on a related thread, I posed the question as to which precise Rule of Racing had Howard Johnson broken, in direct relation to a neurectomy.
No one responded. I certainly didn’t know (and I own a racehorse).
Thanks to the BHA Report on the case it can be revealed that it is ".
.Rule 182(x) and, Schedule (B) 3, para 11 in the 2007 and 2009 Rules respectively..".
Johnson’s main defence was that he had no knowledge that the operation and subsequent horse entries were in breach of the Rules of Racing.
And it is this fact that the BHA Panel chose to highlight…Johnson’s reckless disregard for the Rules was behaviour which fell seriously short of the standard to be expected of an experienced licensed trainer…
I wonder – prior to, say, February 2011 – just how many UK trainers could honestly say that they knew this precise operation was against the Rules of Racing?
Ah, James Willoughby.
I don’t seem to catch him so much on TV (Racing UK) these days. So last week was a rare exception.
Thursday evening at Epsom, I saw a couple of his interludes with Rishi, and their signing-off piece when discussing Rishi’s likely Olympic Sports assignments from the BBC was hilarious.
The end of the day summary from Goodwood on Saturday with Nick, I found to be a tremendous, thought-provoking piece of horse race analysis.
Either way, top stuff!!Dunno the reason, just like James a lot, both as how he comes over as a person and as a TV presenter/analyst of horse racing.
On the other hand, I cannot understand the platitudes forum members have for Mike Cattermole & Emma Spencer – whatever their mutual attraction. They are dullards, and their lack of interest in horse racing comes over (to me) on each and every TV appearance. I do try to avoid of course, but my heart does sink on those Luck-less Morning Lines when they inevitably dominate alongside that horrible woman.
This article explains it
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/home.s … ument=1546Thanks Admiral. So, if I interpret this correctly, there is nothing specific in the rules about "neurectomy". The charge under Rule (C) 22 relates to a more general ‘falling below the acceptable standards’ relating to ‘duties and skills’ of a trainer, bottoming out on ‘willful neglect’.
Mmmnn…on this charge my money’s on Rory MacNeice.Apologies for resurrecting this thread again, but the case came to my mind in the last couple of days, for the same reasons (when is the inquiry taking place).
Interesting thoughts, although one aspect on the ‘de-nerving’ item still plays in my mind.Which Rule of Racing has actually been broken here?
I mean, is there a specific rule relating to the practice of de-nerving of a horse’s leg(s), and then running under Rules?Or has Howard been issued with a general charge? (The application of steroids charge seems clear – but not this one).
This is very pedantic of me, but I need to know these things!!Howard’s had a hard time of it in the last couple of years – fires, robbery, victim of assault, tax investigations…- I’m surprised he’s been able to carry on. Hasn’t exactly has a poor season when you count the winners. Though, he must be a hardy er, soul.
On the same theme, Fist, I go racing fairly regularly in the north, and it’s been some time (6 months?) since I have seen Howard, or indeed Graham Wylie, present. I dont think either were at Cheltenham’s last meeting, although they had 2 runners.
John Hogg and Howard’s brother-in-law Ray have been saddling runners for the stable in the north.It doesn’t bode well for the stable.
I found it interesting that there was a post-mortem. Is that standard practise and who would order/authorise it? Is it routine, was it instructed by a vet, the owner, the trainer or the BHA?
Or, the insurers?
From the Guardian online report (one Greg Wood) : "There are clear indications that the investigation into Striking Article’s neurectomy was the result of intelligence received, since it would be most unusual to perform a post-mortem on a horse that had been put down after such a minor race."
Curiouser, and curiouser!
Interesting discussion and some good points made from all quarters.
Personally, I am probably in the minority in agreeing with Fist (way back on page 4).
I dont know if Timeform/Raceform have commented as such, but I thought GMOOH’s run was in the ‘not knocked about once his chance was gone’ category.
Training of racehorses can be complex at times, none more so than when a horse does not show the level of form expected, from one season to the next. Lydia generally does a fine job on RUK, but I feel she can too quick on occasion to castigate a jockey for not riding a horse in a vigorous enough manner.
I mean, there can be many reasons that give rise to a jockey receiving his particular riding instructions. An obvious one being that based on his home work, trainer has issued a strict warning not to ‘bottom’ a horse when his chance has gone on his seasonal reappearance.Rather than plunge head long into open criticism, I would have liked Lydia to credit the jockey and trainer with some intelligence, knowledge and skill in the art of horsemanship. And who knows, maybe connections would have been more open to the media about the horse’s well-being.
From Moehat
We like men that we feel need saving from themselves. He was excellent in that interview with Clare Balding. He’s also got ‘come to bed’ eyes….
Jeepers
I don’t get to see the Morning Line much these days and had no idea what to expect when I saw that Tom Segal was on, but must admit to being quite impressed [possibly because he, I think, agreed with me about the Wichita Linesman ride]; although he got it wrong about Private Be his explanation of why he chose the horse was interesting, particularly as I’m someone that is always looking for the value bet to put my pennies on. On the subject of TML I had heard that McCririck was getting a bit tiresome with his Lord Snooty jibes, and I had to agree with that yesterday.Glad he’s back on TML, however.
McCririck (to Nick Luck) : "Come on then, Lord Snooty, you tell us just how many ‘fags’ you whipped while at Harrow"
Nick Luck : "For discipline or pleasure?"
I haven’t enjoyed TML as much as Saturday’s programme ever. Segal was fascinating – prompting the best out of Francome & McCririck. Nick Luck was superb as a host, mixing the correct amount of humour with serious discussion.
Of course it helped that Jimbo, Posh Bird, Thommo & Down were absent, but there were still a couple of superfluous hangers-on present.Yes, I was struck by the 5 better than AP in a chase comment as well. Only wish someone had pressed him more on it, but that may have been hard on AP.
