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I think you raise a very valid point about the timing of bans coinciding with the National Hunt season climax. Comparison with other rides and why they may or may not have been penalised is secondary.
I am talking from my pocket, having backed Aachen.
Despite having run fewer races than some rivals, the horse met the only viable criterion for such races – age. As with humans, athletic function in horses deteriorates with age not simply with the number of times going on a 3 mile run.
I like the man – always have, possibly because he’s been around pretty much all the way through my ‘era’. Also, he seems to care very much emotionally for his horses, is unfailingly polite and well mannered and just seems an all round nice bloke.
Some argue he performed miracles with See You Then (legs like glass), but I think it is fair to say (anecdotally at least) that his steeplechasers seem to have more than their share of jumping problems.
Even Sprinter Sacre is an unusual jumper given the extravagance of many of his leaps: great to watch but inefficient energy use.
Long Run could never bend his back fully under pressure, leaving his hind legs in a fence. Simonsig is the same.
Oscar W, Grandouet, Shakalakaboomboom, Tanks For That, Roberto Goldback, all had their problems.
Perhaps things would be worse without Geraghty who, imo, excels at getting a horse from one side to the other somehow.
Still, facts tell the story: in the last 5 NH seasons, his win %
NHF: 30
Hurdle: 25
Chase: 23Nicholls is 18, 23, 23
Hobbs is 18, 15, 17
Twister: 13, 14, 14
On these figures, Nicky is the best in Britain, and joint best with Chasers. I guess some things just stick in people’s minds, and they’re hard to shake.
But not this season, which is the point of the thread.
As for the excuses, Ann Stokell could probably compile as convincing a list.
One day there will be a racing channel which shows racing from every racecourse, with on screen betting shows leading up to each race but, best of all, no sound whatsoever.
No presenters, pundits, or commentators.
Bliss.
It is available now ( though not admittedly on a single channel), just adjust your volume switch.
There is no sport and no channel which does not produce carping criticism from the audience. Just be grateful you can watch every race through the day. When I started betting a dodgy sound relay was the best one could get, Saturdays apart.
This forum breeds serial grumblers.
Courage, determination and energy are McCoy’s strong points for me. His place in the record books will be permanent.
My criteria for assessing a jockey put less value on numbers than others may do. In forty years following the sport Ruby Walsh tops my list.
I hope Down doesn’t get any more TV time from Channel 4. His role, like that of Tom O’Ryan on Racing UK, seems to be that of the token old-timer with the slow delivery trotted out to spin cliches in obituaries and recaps.
It’s all rather stale and predictable. I even think these two detract from the people/horses/events they’re remembering with their wizened old sage acts now.
Typical of the vile and unpleasant comments from too many that populate this forum.
Bit of an OTT response to a perfectly reasonable criticism isn’t it?
Mike
The vile comments have been posted for many a year
"It’s a long time ago but I seem to remember laughing at a column he used to do in the Weekender.
Nowadays I just laugh at his wobbly head and manicured hair.
Not at all surprised at some of the stories – strikes me as one of the biggest snobs in racing. Certainly has few peers in the art of looking scruffy."
Still, at least The Young Fella did not suggest Down and O’Ryan should be euthanised.
I’m sorry if you found that comment vile or unpleasant, but that’s all I feel their roles amount to. I know it’s an unpopular opinion to hold, yet I don’t think people should be immune from criticism just because they are venerable figures in the racing world.
I feel that Down and O’Ryan over-romanticise quite unremarkable events. Racing rolls on and different horses win the feature races, but they are on hand with their hackneyed metaphors to try to make everything much more grandiose than it really is. Feel free to disagree, but I see few insights and very little worthwhile in what they contribute. It’s a phony kind of faux-intellectualism where wordplay and comparisons to medieval history replace grounded, lively analysis. I feel that their prominence in the racing media makes it harder for us to appreciate when we have something truly special, like a moving human interest story or a Frankel or Kauto Star.
I also read the Racing Post Weekender, including Down’s columns and the weekly ‘flashbacks’ to his old articles. It does make me a little queasy to read such sprawling prose about such a range of admirable yet unremarkable animals.
Again, apologies if you found my opinion upsetting. I totally accept if you disagree, but hope you can at least see that it doesn’t come from some sort of spiteful dislike.
I appreciate your reply and accept your comments that nobody should be immune from criticism and you are not intending to be spiteful. I think the nature of modern media results in a proliferation of negative comment, and I am reacting to that. Sam Twiston-Davies, for eample, has attracted many negative comments on here when things have gone wrong, yet an excellent ride as in the Cleeve Hurdle goes unremarked.
That does not mean I agree with your latest comments about Down. You seem to have no recognition of the humour in his contributions and also overstate his prominence in the racing media.
I hope Down doesn’t get any more TV time from Channel 4. His role, like that of Tom O’Ryan on Racing UK, seems to be that of the token old-timer with the slow delivery trotted out to spin cliches in obituaries and recaps.
It’s all rather stale and predictable. I even think these two detract from the people/horses/events they’re remembering with their wizened old sage acts now.
Typical of the vile and unpleasant comments from too many that populate this forum.
Is your objection because they are "token" or "old-timer"?
I have been informed, amused and at many times moved by Down’s journalism since the launch of the Weekender.
The current crop on C4, in the main, have nothing interesting to say. They are the TV equivalent of "muzak"
The BHA like so many sports administrators seem to function with a complete absence of common sense.
Last Saturday Coleman was on The Morning Line and there was a discussion with Mick Fitzgerald about whip bans. If my memory is correct, this highlighted the attitude of the stewards at the Welsh Grand National meeting and complimented them. It was clear that the prescribed limit had been exceeded by Coleman. Hence I am not surprised (though am disappointed) that they are now taking action.
As for David Bridgwater, his use of foul language is the only thing I think he got wrong. The criticism of the Stewards was spot on.
I am sorry byt Ruby is different class to Sam, who as contrived to get Southfield Theatre and Solar Impulse beat and managed to get thorme off Saphir Du Rheau.
Me thinks he may struggle to last the season.but we will see.And if this happens you will no doubt be the first on here crowing you were right.
Solar Impulse was beaten by the better horse on the day who finally got his jumping act together. Saphir Du Rheau’s back legs collapsing and the loss of momentum meant it inevtiable the jockey would not stay on whoever it was.
If you are going to carp you need to find some better evidence. Southfield Theatre was off the bridle from 4 out, did not jump the last well but any jockey error escaped me.
(Not that any one would be arguing STD is superior to Ruby Walsh)
What crap. Most rehabilitation will be undertaken away from the trainers yard. Nicholls has a record second to none at keeping horses sweet year after year. Twister is another with this knack.
All trainers regularly clear out the dead wood. Owners who can afford to have a horse with the best aren’t generally going to keep dead wood in training.
If you are referring to my quotes as crap, I’m pretty well qualified ‘crap’ having bought 4 cheltenham winners!!
Precisely what has that fact to do with your ability to talk crap?
You make many assertions regarding Nicholls but clearly are unable to present the facts to support them.
Would have been even better if they didn’t have show the gaff racing from away meetings.
What this week has shown is that lydia hyslop is worth ten Clare baldings and long may she shine.That comment totally disregards that they are asked to do rather different jobs. Hyslop adds value with her comments about the horses and running of a race but that is a role Balding is not asked to do. Balding is an excellent interviewer.
Nick Luck is competent but as a personality is completely forgettable. To get good audience stats there has to be an appeal outside the racing fraternity. Clair Balding clearly has appeal to the public but is on screen for only a small part of the broadcast.
Watching McCririck provided unpredictability and entertainment for the casual viewer, along with some more positive contributions on issues like the whip and fairness for punters, of relevance to the racing community. McGrath and Cunningham are the equivalent of drying paint to the casual viewer. Plunkett, Lee and Stevenson are of interest to nobody.
I doubt the BBC will resurrect any interest in covering racing and it is far from ideal for the sport that Channel 4 has a monopoly on terrestrial broadcasting.I only watch online and the monthly sub for a long time has been £15. When they extended the option for viewing to include iphone, android etc they bumped up the subs to £20. Existing subscribers got the first 3 months of the new service at the old price i.e.until February.
Don’t get much advantage from the new service since I could already watch anywhere using my laptop.I have found I always get a decent response when I have complained by email. The service was very poor with online viewing unavailable several times in November and I sent an email suggesting a refund was in order. Early this month a cheque duly arrived.
The further price increase on top of the recent £5 when the new viewing options were introduced takes me close to the point of cancelling and any further increase in the next 12 months will make my mind up for me.As a suscriber for racing uk online I am currently unable to access the service. They have introduced the changes before sending out details to subscribers as to what to do when the existing login details no longer work.
Bit like last week really – money paid and no serviceThis is a brillant website despite irritations regarding speed and connection at times and I appreciate the efforts of Corm and others in keeping it going.
I sent an email to RUK and did get a reply which indicated the issue of compensation to subscribers was being discussed. However I am not holding my breath!
