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I’d disagree, the horse is travelling into the hurdle, and meeting it on a good stride, Choc is going forward with him and allowing him to attack the hurdle, just because he is not moving on him does not mean that he is not helping him, as from a long way out he has realised there is no need to alter his stride. Perhaps in hindsight he should have been more definate on the horse however to my eye WBY guesses at the hurdle as he has done on all of his starts over hurdles, and steps into the obsticle. The horse has a habit of doing this. Choc has not in anyway changed his mind into the hurdle, or sent mixed signals to the horse, i.e looking to attack the hurdle and stand off the hurdle, and then changing his mind. But again these are technical issues which actually, yes, an ex-pro would have a better idea about.
I find all of this quite ridiculous. This is a guy who has ridden over 1000 winners. Yes by his high standards the last couple of, injury plagued, years have been mediocre by his high standards, but his record suggests that he is in the top echelon of riders. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, however I find some of this opinion is mainly based on hearsay and a lack of understanding of the sport. I have read many forum debates and other social media outlets, that have had a go at, in no particular order, the likes of Geraghty, Twiston-Davies, Scudamore, Russel and Johnson all top, top riders and have been consistently in the top 10 for as long as I can remember. Yes like any other walk of life they can get it wrong, but the fact is they get it wrong on fewer occasions than most, which is why they have either had the best jobs or kept the best jobs over a sustained length of time. The modern trend of having clueless pundits, Cunningham, Hislop etc trying to explain the art of race riding in depth has not helped this cause. There is a place for these people and just I am not in favour of just having a clique ex-pro’s club, however cricket and football televise puts racing firmly in the shade, when the likes of Carragher, Neville, Botham and Holding analyse a days performance or match. As Mickey Holding once said "Does ‘e wanna be at de crease" and frankly having bowled at someone at 90 mph+ he had a very good idea of those who did and those who didn’t.
Was life so cruel for synchronised? It is about time people started to realise that racehorses are treated like the athletes that they are. He had a life of 5 star care. He was tough and gallant. It’s sad, it’s upsetting that he was killed today, but like many other minority incidents both horses were killed doing something they loved. And in freak accidents. I would prefer the so called institutions that are meant to be looking after horses interests at heart sort out the cruelty and mistreatment of animals that happens all over the country and, no doubt probably less than 5 minutes away from where you are reading this there is a over nourished, rain scalded pony that is crippled with laminitis, before rounding on something that is an industry, that employs hundreds of thousands and where the horses are better looked after than the vast majority of those that work in the sport. And also wether the same newspapers that will no doubt jump on the bandwagon of an easy target tomorrow morning, will be feeling any guilt in taking all of the sponsors, and bookmakers P.R money all last week, or just happy that they have a target with which they can write an easy copy on all week without realising the damage they will be doing to a huge industry.
Mr. Struthers all I was meaning to point out is how can a jockey be banned from riding, not just at the festival, but at any meeting, yet a trainer who is accussed of something as frightening as de-nerving a horses’ tendons be allowed to compete. Was it not the case that some certain flat jockeys were banned from riding before their own cases had come before the disciplinary panel?
Rules are rules, however I cannot help in believing a case of double standards when Jason Maguire will be watching at home while Howard Johnson and Nicky Henderson will have numerous runners allowing for their recent misdemeanors. Perhaps Mr. Struthurs could explain that. And I am sure that his views on the whip are a PR man’s dream for Animal Aid and the other anti groups.
Well done Raff. Great stuff. On the button as usual!!!! Hope you were watching the 3.40 at ascot from behind the sofa!!
I think everyone is being a little unfair on Jamie in this respect. You don’t see Nasser Hussain walking back to the dressing room with one of the cricketers after they’ve got out asking for an immediate response, or Motty popping up with a question to Wayne Rooney after he’s missed a glorious chance. So why should a jockey be expected to speak to the media before he’s had a chance to reflect on the defeat, or reached a conclusion with connections. I’m sure he didn’t mean to be rude, but just could not believe she had got beat, as it seems she is the best horse that he’s ridden.
Quite simply the greatest figure on the turf of the 20th century. If you have not read Ivor Herbert’s book on the man then get it now.
R.I.P
Raff are you Thomas Barr in disguise and got the hump coz Scu beat The Pious Prince yesterday? You seem to have made a lot of threads on the merit of Mr Scu.
Just a thought but after what everyone has said after last years champion, maybe this years champion proved that Tom Scudamore didn’t get it too badly wrong. Wonder what Mr. Barr thinks and who is going to ride it now!!!
"John Francome sure talks some mince at times; well most times come to think of it.
After Tom Scudamore won today’s big race, a hyperbolic Francome proclaimed that he was now as good as his dad.
No John, he is not."
Francome was also champion jockey 7 times so he might be in a better postion to judge.
I have to agree the chase course looked awful there on Saturday. It was so bad even Kauto couldn’t be bothered to make a mistake!! :D
Seriously considering what a course it was compared to now… It’s just a completely different track. Twin Oaks and Neale Doughty certainly wouldn’t approve!!
The one point nobody seems to have mentioned is the number of fallers at the second last on the old course over hurdles. I am sure that followers of Keen Leader, Granville Again and especially Land Afar may argue that it is not just the chase course that is difficult. And indeed many jockeys would argue that the fence at the top of the hill on the new course is the most difficult on either track (although this has recently been modified). I am afraid that the likelyhood of fallers on any track increases when they are asked to go faster than they are capable of. This I am sure increases at Cheltenham due to the ultra competetiveness of just about every race, where horses are asked to go faster than they have ever been before. It’s championship racing. Good debate though.
