Friday, March 19, 2010
JOHN McCRIRICK refused yesterday to temper his criticism of Brian O’Connell’s handling of odds-on favourite, Dunguib, in Tuesday’s Supreme Novice’s Hurdle.
The outspoken Channel 4 pundit was given the opportunity to at least apologise to the young Limerick jockey on yesterday’s Radio 1 Pat Kenny Show but he availed of the airwaves to repeat his criticism of how the horse was ridden.
"Brian O’Connell has ridden Dunguib to win nine races – he is a young man and his career is ahead of him – but this horse is a young horse, he is a difficult horse, he jumps sloppily," McCririck insisted. "He can’t be got in a rhythm by Brian O’Connell. You would not have a relative newcomer in the very top flight and expect to do the best. Remember when he won the bumper, it was a flat race here last year, he was in front three furlongs out.
"Now he rides in the first race – in the Supreme Novices (Hurdle), wide on the outside, far back, came through late. You need a man like Ruby Walsh or AP McCoy – even bring back John Francome – to teach the horse. The horse is still learning. It is unfair on Dunguib that Brian O’Connell should be kept on it. Loyalty by the stable and the owners that’s fine but it’s against the interest of the horse and, of course, the punters."
Reminded that Davy Russell thought he had been very unfair to Brian O’Connell he said it was "the boys sticking up for the boys".
"They stick up for their own," he said. "Absolutely right, full credit to Davy Russell for saying that. I am asking you if you owned Dunguib would you go along with a relatively inexperienced young rider on the way up or go and get one of the top pilots?
"This is a particularly difficult horse to ride. He doesn’t ride easily flow, doesn’t have the rhythm unless the jockey can help him. He got away with it in Ireland when (there were) two or three runners and that sort of thing. When he was in a proper hurdle race in top company the rider was found wanting not the horse.
"I’m asking anybody who complains about what I am saying – it’s what the punters are saying. In fairness when they backed Dunguib they knew this young lad was on top so it’s their own fault for doing it. But in the end if they owned the horse who would they employ, Ruby Walsh or Brian O’Connell?"
Popular pundit Ted Walsh stirred the debate by saying he "wouldn’t give McCririck the time of day", describing him as a "big oaf" who wouldn’t be safe on a bicycle.
However McCririck wasn’t biting, describing Ted Walsh as "The King of Cheltenham".
"Ted Walsh is the King of Cheltenham." he said. "After what his daughter did yesterday and of course Ruby now with 26 winners at the Cheltenham – the record of all time – it’s the Royal Family – it’s the Walsh clan. Ted is the voice of Ireland, a fantastic man, rode four Festival winners – over 600 winners – Ted Walsh is that.
"On the other hand, Ted knows in his heart that I am right but he cannot come out and say it and condemn one of his fellow Irish riders. He cannot do it. For Irish consumption he has got to go along and say that I am wrong.
"All the jockeys know I am right. Do you have a new professional rider on his back? It’s a no-brainer. They can’t face up to it. Just because I haven’t ridden too many winners at Cheltenham they think I know nothing."
Limerick jockey O’Connell went on to have a double at Down Royal on Wednesday, prompting McCririck to state: "Of course his career is on the make," he said. "He is on the up and up – he will be good young rider in time but not now. This Dunguib is particularly difficult, he (Dunguib) is a slow learner, he needs tuition, he needs education and only a top flight rider can give it to him.
"Maybe in a few years time O’Connell can be champion jockey in Ireland. It takes nothing away from the fact that, as a 23-year-old, he is not capable giving the very best possible ride to a horse – the same as Sam Waley-Cohen yesterday on Long Run – he is an amateur they should get a proper jockey stuck on him as well. I am not condemning just Brian O’Connell."
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