Dun yer money!

By Brendan O’Brien, Cheltenham

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

SO, the world didn’t stop turning then.

For a while there, that seemed to be one of the more absurd consequences if Dunguib didn’t do what we all expected and romp effortlessly to victory in the opening Supreme Novices Hurdle.

Life goes on - for the punters who had backed him so heavily, for Paddy Power who stood to lose £4m had he won and for Brian O’Connell, the jockey who will swap Cheltenham for Down Royal today.

"He ran a good race," said the 23-year old. "It was a little bit of an in and out race. The gallop slowed at times and they started bunching up. He was unlucky to be caught a little wide which didn’t help.

"He probably missed the fourth last and I was chasing a bit after that. He had a chance going to the last but that’s racing. It was a tough task turning in. He got under the last a little bit, and there was shorter run to the line."

O’Connell has become synonymous with Dunguib but he has only been a professional jockey a wet week and the decision to retain him on such a fancied runner for this race was one questioned in the preceding weeks.

Trainer Philip Fenton refused to apportion any blame. "These things happen in a split second and I wouldn’t criticise Brian. We are still in the winner’s circle here at Cheltenham. We have been beaten and we have to take it and take it on the chin."

Still, it can’t have been easy for O’Connell who knew only too well the doubts people had in his stewardship of what was described as Ireland’s festival banker. As it was, he was remarkably sanguine about it all.

"Pressure comes as part and parcel of the game. I’d gladly take the pressure for the ride on him. The horse is back in one piece. That’s what matters most. We’ll come back again.

"I’m at Down Royal (today) and hopefully back over here for the conditions rider’s race on Friday. It’s great to be here. It didn’t work out today but that’s racing. There will be other days."

Though there were three Irish winners on the first day – just one less than less year which everyone hailed as a huge success.

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, March 17, 2010