Arrogant Bully

Bullying is something you expect in the school playground, perpetrated by immature children.

It is not something you would expect from supposedly top racing trainers.

Yet racing is looking at the unedifying spectacle of trainers like Mark Johnston and John Gosden publicly bullying a small trainer like Christine Dunnett.

The background is trainers are unhappy with the level of prize money available at Yarmouth racecourse on Easter Monday. A group of supposedly senior trainers unilaterally decided to boycott one of the races at Yarmouth, without even having the common courtesy of discussing the matter with the “smaller” trainers who held entries in the race.

Consequently only Christine Dunnett’s runner Southwark Newsboy remained the only runner resulting in a walkover.

So how do these supposedly mature men respond – by sending offensive and bullying e-mails to Mrs Dunnett.

How good it is to see these “respectable” trainers showing their true colours. Gentlemen they are not, arrogant bully boys they are.

Everyone agrees there is a paucity of prize money in UK racing and something needs to be done about it. However the pathetic token protest arranged by racings bully boys hurts nobody other than small trainers like Mrs Dunnett – there is no financial impact at all to the big stables.

Johnston’s attitude in particular stinks of rank hypocrisy, this is the trainer who has spent the winter sending his decent horses to farm low value all weather races. This to the detriment of the smaller trainers who are trying to eke a decent living in the close season. Financially Johnston does not need to run horses at that level.

More to the point what right do the likes of Johnston and Gosden have to tell other trainers where to run their horses? I can imagine Johnston’s or Gosden’s reaction if Mrs Dunnett had dared to tell them where to run their horses.

I used to have a great deal of admiration and respect for Mark Johnston. Note I made that statement in the past tense. Johnston’s true colours have emerged in the appalling mail he sent to Mrs Dunnett.

Both Johnston and Gosden may be good trainers, however their character and personality seems to have something to be desired.

I’m sure Johnston and Gosden’s arrogance is such that they care not what I think, however nothing would make me happier if some of their owners saw them for what they are and took their horses elsewhere.

If there were any justice in this world they would both end up a small trainers themselves.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 4

Although nowhere near my best festival financially, I found it the most exciting Festival in many a long year.

I was greatly impressed by the flexibility of all sides in the rescheduling of Wednesday's races. I know we are often, rightly, critical of the authorities at times, however on this occasion they deserve nothing but praise. I somehow think if the same had happened ten years ago we would have lost the days racing without any attempt to save it.

The only downside of a ten race card, with large fields, is it is physically and mentally exhausting. I have to admit in the Kim Muir on Thursday afternoon (race nine) I completely lost it trying to read the race.

The highlight for me has to be Master Minded, although a heavy losing race for me financially, I don't thing anyone can fail to be impressed with the way he absolutely demolished the field. The sobering thought is he is only a five year old.

Then, just over an hour later, we saw a totally contrasting hero in Inglis Drever - never flash, only just doing enough, but what guts.

The Kauto Star / Denman clash wasn't quite the gladiatorial contest most envisaged, however it was a privilege to watch all the same.

Add to that some exciting finishes, especially in the early races on Friday then the Festival must have something for everyone.

There were some disappointments, Sizing Europe amongst them and there are still as many questions posed as were answered, but that is the joy of racing?

It is after races like Master Minded’s and the Gold Cup that I sometimes wish I had children – so in years to come I could bore my grandchildren with “I was there” tales.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 3

What a difference a day makes.

Yesterday Cheltenham was abuzz with excitement and there was an interesting days racing.

Definitely a bookies day.

A killer day for me with only one winner and two placed horses. Mixed feelings for the Carberry family A big hug for Nina, not only because she is pretty, but for the great ride to win the cross country. However a kick in the nuts for brother Paul for screwing up a big straight forecast bet I had in the last. I thought Ashkazar to beat Grand Schlem was the best bet of the afternoon. (Pleased for Emma Lavelle though) C'est la vie

Today, well what a difference?

Racing abandoned due to high winds. The course is like a ghost town, albeit a very windy one. Many people are complaining but to me it is a “no brainer”. Conditions are potentially dangerous and no sensible person could take the risk.

As the saying says “every cloud has a silver lining”.

Wednesdays races are going to be rescheduled over the remaining two days.

This means on Thursday we have ten races and Friday we have nine.

Heaven help me – I was knackered after six yesterday.

Tomorrows capacity has been increased from 55,000 to 65,000 – going home will be fun.

Last night it took me 1½ hours to get out of the car park.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 2

I’m sitting here on tenterhooks, one television is tuned to ATR and the other to the news channels watching the storm moving across southern England and Wales.

I have also just seen photographs of damage caused to some the temporary stands at Cheltenham.

Why is it this storm has had all winter to wreak its havoc, yet it decides to turn up the very day before the greatest festival of the year?

Of course the local situation at Cheltenham is only part of the problem, horses have to get to the course and who would want to drive a horse box in these windy conditions?

Oh well, we shall have to assume everything will be OK.

The cards are now available for the first day and no great surprises.

For what it’s worth I have already put some each way money on last years winner Sublimity for the Champion Hurdle, however I will also be having an investment on Sizing Europe, who now looks like the probable winner.

The opening Supreme Novices’ looks like being a lottery and will probably be a “no bet” race.

The Arkle is another double bet race for me – the favourite Norland will have to have a really bad day at the office to lose, and he is a must bet proposition. However I want to play for the forecast and I will have some money on Irish Challenger Clopf.

In the William Hill Trophy I have always had a liking for David Pipe’s Abragante and will probably have a small investment on this enigmatic gelding. However a case could be made for most of the runners and it is not a race to be dogmatic about and there are question marks over most of the runners.

The Cross Country chase has long been an Irish benefit and I see nothing different this year. I had originally opted for the favourite Wonderkid, however I now have a leaning towards Garde Champetre from the yard of Enda Bolger who has a brilliant record in Cheltenham cross country races.

The racing ends with the Fred Winter and I have been keen on French trained Grand Schlem since an impressive second at Kempton. However the winner of the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday, Ashkazar, has been entered and with a £50,000 bonus on offer he cannot be ignored.

Cheltenham Festival 2008 - 1

As I write this there are just over 53 hours to the scheduled start of the first race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Not I use the expression “scheduled start”, this is because the Met Office are forecasting the mother and father of all storms to arrive overnight tonight and into tomorrow.

Indeed if some reports are to be believed it is not only the mother and father of storms, it looks as though they may be inviting the entire family along as well.

It is not so much the rainfall that concerns me but the wind and the damage it could do to the tented areas at Cheltenham. I was at Huntingdon last year when a min-whirlwind hit the course, with strengths nothing like those forecast in the next 24 hours. There tents and marquees were lifted like matchwood and some brave soles fought to contain the damage, but it bought home the damaging effect the wind can have.

Even if Cheltenham escapes there will still be potential problems getting some runners to the course …. oh it is so worrying.

It isn’t as though there is not enough to worry about, without the weather concerns.

On Friday the Gold Cup looks to have the potential to be one of the greatest of all time as stable mates Kauto Star and Denman come head to head for the first time.

The champion taken on by the great pretender. If Kauto Star wins he will go down in the annals of racing history as one of the greats. If not he owes nothing to his connections.

Of course there are twenty-one other races at Cheltenham this week – bring them on.