walsh for jonbon, lossiemouth v lossiemouth, might overcomes human welfare, i.t.v. & cooling down.

​As I predicted (if you are being kind) Mark Walsh has come in for the ride on Jonbon at Cheltenham tomorrow. In Nico de Boinville’s regrettable absence, Walsh is a sensible safe pair hands, especially as James Bowen failed to become friends with Jonbon at Cheltenham last season. Against my prediction, though a triumph for what I hoped-for, James Bowen is in line to get the leg-up on Constitution Hill at Punchestown next week. I suppose it might be termed under the heading ‘poison chalice’. If he wins, it will all be down to Constitution Hill being ‘the greatest hurdler of all-time’. He is not, by the way. And if he falls again - but let us not travel that path.

The Lossiemouth versus Lossiemouth clash at Sandown tomorrow is more embarrassment than it is a problem for the commentator or spectator. No two horses in training should have the same name and is easily avoided if a horse that comes to race in Britain has the same name as a horse already in training here has his or her name altered. The second Lossiemouth to come into this country could and should have had its name altered to ‘The Lossiemouth’ or ‘Another Lossiemouth.’ Or something along those lines.
On a similar subject. If a horse comes from abroad, usually France, with a name the same as a horse still revered on these shores, for example Brown Jack, the name must be altered to ‘The Brown Jack’ or ‘Another Brown Jack.’ Personally, I hate to see the names of famous horses replicated, especially when carried by inferior horses. It is as maddening as when Mr & Mrs Jones name their first-born Winston Churchill Jones or David Bowie Jones. And yes, I know that Bowie’s real name was David Jones. My barber grew-up in the same street as David Jones and has a signed copy of Bowie’s first ever record. Worth a small fortune, I should imagine. Not that he will sell. So no asking me to pass on your telephone number or e-mail address.

Due to pressure from the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, Horse Racing Ireland has gone back on its plan to restrict 60-races per season to those trainers who the previous season failed to train 50-winners or more. Might overcoming basic human welfare due to the ‘big 4’ threatening to take the H.R.I. to court on the premise of ‘restriction of trade’ or some such rot. I believe everyone involved in racing should get a fair crack of earning a fair wage from the sport and given the overwhelming dominance of the ‘big 4’ in Irish racing, I saw these proposed 60-races as a helping hand for those not blessed with the level of wealth that underpins the big 4 stables.
The I.R.T.A have submitted alternative plans to achieve this helping hand incentive, though I doubt they will help half as much as the original proposal.

I.T.V. are brilliant for the sport and a godsend for the television viewer. As Ed Chamberlain recognised last Saturday, the race programme for Sandown this weekend would have meant they would have to go off air before it was known, perhaps, whether Skelton or Mullins had won the trainers’ championship and with the sort of diplomacy and cooperation unknown to peace negotiators, the whole running order was shifted around and I.T.V. bosses then allowed an extra 60-minutes of broadcasting. This would not have happened in the B.B.C.’s tenure of the contract, and neither would it have happened when Channel 4 held the reins. Ed, you are a wonder. Now let us hope Skelton can dig-in and still be shooting for the crown come the final race of the 2024/25 season.

Now, let me be clear: I am not suggesting that the cooling down of horses after the Aintree National is not a good idea. If vets advocate the procedure, then I am not one to argue against them. But.
Why is the provision of water not mandatory at the finish of every long-distance chase or every race when the temperature is above, say, 25-degrees? And why is it not mandatory for every racecourse, especially flat courses who race mainly during the summer months, to have misting machines installed.
At Aintree, I.T.V. stressed the importance of horse welfare. The same level of horse welfare should be in place at every racecourse. Because if it is not, we leave ourselves open to criticism, to be judged as having a two-tier attitude to welfare. One for when terrestrial cameras are present and one for when they are not.