Cheltenham Reflections

Let me begin by offering a complete, full and unreserved apology to trainer Paul Nicholls. In the immediate aftermath of the re-arranged King George I was suggesting Kauto Star should be retired . . .  how wrong was I?

Racing is a diverse sport and those who do bother to read my live reports from tracks up and down the country will be aware I am not backwards in coming forwards if I think a race is dire or terrible. Unfortunately we seem to be getting more uncompetitive races, although most racing, I hasten to add is usually enjoyable.

Occasionally you get to see something special. Something so electric you forget the wet mid-week afternoons at a bleak gaff track.

I realise I am privileged in that I do get to see some exceptional races. Even though my heart is more with national hunt than flat racing, I was privileged to be at Epsom when we first had an inkling of how good Sea The Stars may be.

I was at Longchamp the following October when, from what looked like an impossible position, Mick Kinane pressed the button on Sea The Stars and I was one of many hardened observers with tears flowing at the awesome run we had seen.

Workforce

Back to Epsom last June, not expecting too much after the previous years race, and Workforce came home a convincing winner but the cynics amongst us were asking “what had he beaten” . . . . until judge Nick Bostock came over the PA to announce he has won in a record time.

Then there was that surreal Thursday at Cheltenham. It was the day after the meeting had been lost to the high winds and we had a massive ten race card to help catch up. In the delayed Queen Mother Champion Chase we witnessed a precocious runner from the Paul Nicholls yard destroy a high class field, coming home 19 lengths clear . . . . his name . . . . Master Minded. Then just over an hour later Kasbah Bliss once again came in striking distance of his nemesis but had to play second fiddle as Inglis Drever recorded his third World Hurdle victory.

Roll forward to the 2011 Festival and even before the start of racing we had seen enough impressive performances to live in the memory.

On Tuesday Hurricane Fly showed us what we had missed over the past few years, as he finally managed to arrive at the festival without any setbacks. How many Champion Hurdles could he have won had he not had all those setbacks?  We then saw Quevega take David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle for the third year running, showing she still remains in a class of her own.

Wednesday was, arguably, a little bit flat – although connections of Sizing Europe, the new two mile champion, would disagree.

Thursday was another day for the sentimentalists. Returning winners in the Championship races are not that uncommon, to win back to back races in an ultra-competitive handicap takes some doing, so it was quite an achievement for the David Pipe team as Buena Vista took the Pertemps Final for the second year running. It was also some redemption for young claimer Conor O’Farrel who suffered the ignominy of managing to fall of his horse on the run-in when looking a certain winner at Taunton recently.

Next up the enigmatic Albertas Run retained his Ryanair crown despite some moron running onto the track with some protest, seemingly against Ryanair.

This incident produced the quote of the week from Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary who said,  "If some idiot wants to try and make some publicity for himself let him" . . . this from the King of publicity gimmicks.

The best was yet to come as Big Bucks went on to win his third consecutive World Hurdle . . .  coming home to rapturous cheers and seeing off the young pretender, but a potential star of the future, Grands Crus.

Thursday was not a good day for the handicapper though as David Pipe’s Junior made a complete mockery of the handicap, coming home 24 lengths clear in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir.

So onto Friday and the most open Gold Cup in years. It was hailed as the battle of the “big four” three previous winners and a young upstart.

To add spice there were question marks hanging over all four of them. Denman and Kauto Star were “too old”, Imperial Commander had fitness worries and Long Run had disappointed on previous Cheltenham runs.

In the end only one of the concerns seemed justified.

There was also a certain irony when watching the race. In recent years the focus has been on the rivalry between Kauto Star and Denman, yet somehow there never was the epic battle. This year, without the hype, we finally had the battle.

At the top of the hill the “big four” were all in contention. By the bottom of the hill and the turn for home Imperial Commander had proved his doubters right.

As they turned for home side by side, in front, were the pensioners Kauto Star and Denman and on their heels was the young pretender Long Run.

Two out the old boys were still locked together but by the final fence the young pretender was there and all the other two could do was watch as he pulled clear.

Long Run

Yesterday afternoon the baton was passed from the older generation to the younger generation.

The “old boys” were far from disgraced, unlike the boxer who never knows when to stop, they come out of yesterdays race with pride, with dignity and, in equine terms, their heads held high.

As to who is the better of Kauto Star and Denman . . .  who cares? Both are brave horses, both have done their connections proud. Both have bought delight to followers of the sport and they have been the best ambassadors the sport can have.

So another Cheltenham is over, as I write this on the day after the Festival I am still tired from four frenetic days.

The build-up seems to go on forever yet the four days themselves seem to fly by. It seems it was only yesterday I was at Sandown for the Imperial Cup.

Covering the Festival is hard work. In the food chain of racing journalism I am somewhere in the plankton level. This means I am “relegated” from the main Press Room at Cheltenham to the outer reaches of the Media Centre in the Guinness Village.

That is a double edged sword. By all accounts the Media Centre is less frenetic than the main Press Room. The Media Centre is also home to most of the Irish press corps and I have to say they are great fun to be with. We also seem to have more space to work down there.

The disadvantages are being in the Guinness Village it is even more difficult to move around the course. Also those of us based there have no reserved spot from which to see the racing. We have to fight for a place in the crowd or watch on TV.

Even watching on TV isn’t simple when you want to analyse a race as the pictures we receive in the Media Centre as the Channel Four shots, which tend to change angle far too frequently. Now that may be nice for the occasional viewer at home (and I have to say they are nothing like as bad as the French with their arty shots) but they are a nightmare when attempting to read a race with 20 plus runners.

The other nightmare was the problems with the wi-fi on the first two days. I have to confess I was luckier than most in I had a 3G dongle as backup – it wasn’t ideal but at least I had something, which is more than most.

On the subject of the wi-fi problems I would like to pay tribute to Cheltenham and all the IT staff who worked very long hours and when the problems were finally resolved the wi-fi was extremely impressive in terms of speed.

Putting it all into perspective the niggles were minor. They were not insurmountable and most of all I was, once again, able to say “I was there.”

It’s only 361 days to next year’s Cheltenham Festival . . .  so who do you think will beat Long Run in the Gold Cup next year?   

A Matter Of Discipline

Corruption – not the prettiest of words, but a word that has been to the fore in recent weeks with several high profile disciplinary panels sitting and pronouncing.


Their verdicts have been nothing, if not, controversial and have posed more questions than answers.


The biggest anomaly has been the varying punishments handed out.


Trainer Karl Burke has been handed one year disqualification for associating with a disqualified individual. The disciplinary panel verdict makes good reading and one can see, and agree, with their reasoning and the punishment handed out.


Contrast Burkes punishment to that handed down to jockey Fergal Lynch. A jockey who admitted throwing races, in most eyes one of the most heinous crimes in the sport, outside being cruel to horses. Yet he was able to ‘plea bargain’ a, or him, modest fine and a informal agreement not to ride in this country for a year.


Yet he was, until the US authorities intervened, able to continue his career overseas. His “punishment” made an absolute mockery of the disciplinary process. He should have faced a “minimum” worldwide ban from all aspects of racing for five years and when that ban was over still never be able to ride for life.


Paul Struthers who is the BHA’s official spokesman, who must surely have one of the most difficult and unenviable jobs in PR, says the BHA are currently reviewing the penalty structure – and not before time.


However reviewing the structure is one thing, implementing it is another.


Disciplinary hearings are heard by independent panels who, even now, err on the side of extreme caution and frequently come in with punishments below the recommended entry points.


Yes the authorities are in a difficult position.


We are now living in a society where litigation is commonplace and those facing bans which will effectively deprive them of their livelihoods, will fight such decisions in the courts – after all what have they to lose?


The authorities, reluctant to incur costs or attract bad publicity, will then fight shy of legal action and compromise.


Therein lies a vicious circle.


The answer. Review the rules and punishments, ensuring they are fair and the punishment fits the crime. Also ensure the penalties are legally enforceable taking into account relevant legislation.


Ensure there is a fair an open disciplinary process. I am not advocating public hearings but allow a press presence – it can be a single pooled reporter to prevent the hearing becoming some form of freak show – with reporting being on the same basis as criminal cases to protect all parties.


Allow an adequate appeals process.


When due process is complete, if the individual then wants to take legal action it should be challenged and fought all the way by the authorities.


If the process is correct and the punishment deemed appropriate by the authorities then they should have nothing to fear, it should stand up to scrutiny in the courts. By standing up to and contesting such actions it will send out the message the authorities mean business. It will only need one or two failed court actions by corrupt trainers or jockeys for the message to be clearly sent out that corruption will not be tolerated.


In this mornings Racing Post I read the Racecourse Association Chief Executive, Stephen Atkins, is suggesting racecourses should take responsibility for integrity. I have never heard such a half baked suggestion and if that is the sort of suggestion emerging from the racecourses then I despair for the future of the sport.


Integrity is the responsibility of the central authority, in this case the BHA. Having different courses looking after integrity would be farcical.


Atkins has already admitted it could be “more cost-effective” for that read lower priority.


Racecourses already employ Clerks Of Courses and we already know the pressure they come under to race at almost all costs – regardless of the integrity and safety of the course.


Most Clerks will admit, off the record of course, they come under pressure to race when the decisions are borderline. After all it is financially better for the courses to get one race run, thus avoiding the need to refund customers, than to abandon before racing.


Can you imagine a similar scenario with integrity – would a particular course want the stigma of having an iffy race run on their track? Would they turn a blind eye to borderline infringements?

For all its faults I would much rather have integrity controlled, managed and financed centrally.