another view, goodbye, emma, perth & injured Nico.

​In the ‘Another View’ column of the Racing Post today, Catherine Macrae makes a good case for National Hunt jockeys to have a break from racing imposed on them after the end-of-season meeting at Sandown. I say ‘imposed’, my word, not Catherine’s, as jockeys all seem to suffer from the condition workaholicism, a compulsion that inherently lazy people like myself cannot get our heads around. At the moment this break from the treadmill comes around at high summer, so jockeys may not appreciate being thwarted in their need to earn a wage on more than one occasion. A break of two or three weeks from the end of one season and the start of the next may seem a better idea that in high summer but it would not come without problems as spring time is a good business opportunity for many of our more scenic racecourses.
There is a 6-day hiatus from Sandown this Saturday to Cheltenham the following Friday evening, the popular Hunter Chase meeting, with the professional jockeys getting back on the horse the following day at either Uttoxeter or Hexham.
Personally, I believe the problem of the top jockeys burning themselves out would be better alleviated if there were designated days and weeks throughout the year when meetings are restricted to riders who have ridden less than 30-winners in the previous 12-months. Or any number and any period that best fits. The top jockeys earn a good living from the sport, and deserve every penny; this cannot be said for the lower rank of jockeys and they deserve the opportunity of a boost to their income. The top jockeys can easily afford to have a few weeks in the year imposed on them when they must rest and recuperate. It will good for their bodies and good for their minds. Even workaholics of the Sean Bowen mindset.

I am saddened by the retirement of Emma Smith Chaston. She always looked a neat and tidy rider, proven by getting her claim down to 3Ibs. In an interview when announcing her retirement, which seemed a spur-of-the-moment decision, though perhaps not, she admitted to losing the heart for the game. I hope the sport does not lose her entirely as people with her ability and experience are in short supply and when the Emma Smith Chaston’s of this racing world find employment outside of the sport, the sport can only suffer.

Perth today have a cracker of a 3-mile listed novice hurdle. Perth should be applauded for boosting the prize-money for the race and are rewarded with 14-runners, all of which have the form to either win or run with merit. If only every racecourse would be as bold and generous. As I have said multiple times, if the B.H.A. were to have an aspiration for every racecard staging one race per-meeting worth £10,000 or more to the winner, the trickle-up effect would become the norm and the problem of poor prize-money would not be quite the problem it is.

At Plumpton on Monday, Nico de Boinville suffered neck and back injuries which means Jonbon will have to thwart the Mullin’s battalion with a different jockey on his back on Saturday. James Bowen would be the obvious stand-in but it was clear to a blind man that James and Jonbon did not get on when they partnered at Cheltenham last season and perhaps brother Sean might make a better fit. I also think that Harry Cobden might also be a good fit and he is everyones go to jockey at the moment. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that J.P. might insist on Mark Walsh getting the ride. 
All of which is to snub James Bowen, Henderson’s number two jockey and who is doubtless better acquainted with the Henderson stars than an outside jockey, even if he has only schooled alongside de Boinville and not actually schooled the big two himself. If Bowen, James that is, is the man in the wings to take over from de Boinville when he retires, then he should be given the opportunity to ride both Jonbon and Constitution Hill, and all the Seven Barrows horses over the next two weeks. I somehow doubt he will. I suspect Harry Cobden will be a very busy man over the next week or two.