differences, nolan, owner, horse population & king george.

​An example of the different approaches to governing the sport between Ireland and Britain is that in Ireland when a fixture cannot be held, they will postpone, whereas in Britain the fixture is abandoned, as with Bangor this coming Saturday. Cork was beaten by Storm Bert last Sunday, yet with speed aforethought, Cork has been given a substitute meeting on December 13th. Chalk and cheese, wouldn’t you say?
God forbid, but if either Newbury or Newcastle were to be abandoned this Saturday, only, and then perhaps, the headline races would be transferred to the next convenient race-day and at another racecourse. Would it not be wise to make plans for the meetings to go ahead the following day, racecourse conditions permitting? If this was a condition of entry, the sponsors and I.T.V. could likewise make plans for a Sunday fixture.

When the Cheltenham stewards suspended Michael Nolan for 12-days after he ‘took the wrong course’ in the Cross-Country race, I thought, taking into consideration the complexity and novelty of the race, he was hard done by. Reviewing the race, though still believing his punishment to be severe, I thought he was more to blame for the incident than the horse. Therefore, I am pleased he has won his appeal, especially after the dog’s abuse he received from ignorant racegoers. I hope connections of Tommie Beau will return in March to attempt to put matters to right as up to the incident the horse had jumped and galloped with distinction and would have an obvious chance with a similar performance.

Owners are justified to be offended by being left-out of consideration by Flutter when drawing-up plans for the David Power Jockeys Cup. Trainers get a slice of the prize-money, as will stable staff. But not owners. Given the winner of the Jockeys Cup will receive half-a-million-quid, you would have thought someone in the organisation might have piped-up and said ‘would it not be a grand gesture if half that first-prize went to the owner who provided the horses that accumulated the greatest number of points throughout the competition?’
Jockeys would have snapped hands from wrists to win £250,000. Flutter might have thought to add £10,000 to every race televised by I.T.V. to be shared by the owners of horses failing to make the first four. That might not be described as ‘a grand gesture’ but it would have been a gesture. Something could have been thought-up to pacify or please the people who help make our sport both tick and tock. The D.P.J.C. is ill-conceived and the concept is sullied for it. The rich jockeys get richer and the poor sods at the bottom of the pyramid are forgotten about again, as are owners.

Four-runners in the Hattons Grace at Fairyhouse. Four-runners in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. Two-races competing for the same small pool of horses. Something needs to be done and what needs to be done is that the British and Irish race compilers need to get together and coordinate so that races like the Hattons Grace and the Long Distance Hurdle do not compete for the same type of horse. One should be a handicap, perhaps limited, the other a conditions race. At least for the foreseeable future.

Even with Willie Mullins taking out all eight of his entries from the King George at Kempton at the last forfeit stage, it could yet be a competitive and enthralling race come Boxing Day. The one horse Mullins did not enter for the King George, Fact To File, might yet be supplemented, as it seems Willie does not fancy running him again against Galopin Des Champ, at least not until March. Also, if ground conditions are in his favour, Fastorslow might yet be supplemented. And, contrary to his first thoughts after the Betfair, Grey Dawning might also turn-out for the King George as he has come out of Haydock in high spirits and is not as knackered as his trainer had predicted. Pic D’Orhy, though, is not to be supplemented, which is a shame as before Fact To File and Fastorslow were thrown into the mix I had started to fancy Paul Nicholl’s horse as a lively outsider.