Turf Club’s rostering of officials needs to be looked at
We are all aware of the long-running saga between the Turf Club and the officials, regarding cut-back issues, and there is no doubt that’s a battle which is proving difficult for both sides.
The bottom line, however, is that no matter what goes on between them racing must not be affected and the day-to-day running of the game has to be managed properly.
The Turf Club is lucky in that it has assembled a strong team of officials to do the jobs required. But, like all people in every industry, they have their own particular strengths and weaknesses.
We know these officials have to be rotated throughout the year to cover all the different requirements which have to be met at meetings.
You could, perhaps, liken the Turf Club to a Premiership soccer team, which is constantly rotating its squad. But the way the Turf Club does it, at least on occasions, gives plenty of food for thought.
There are times when you think they are playing the goalkeeper at centre forward, or the main striker as a full back.
There are jobs for which certain people are quite simply unsuited. It makes no sense to me to have a person acting as a stewards’ secretary, who is clearly far better off as a starter, and someone doing the job as starter, who should be judging.
I would even go so far as to say that the Turf Club, given some of its recent staffing allocations, might be accused of acting in a manner which is doing nothing to enhance the good image of Irish racing.
I want to go on record here now and say it is time to act before the horse bolts rather than, as usual, waiting for him to do just that and then closing the door.
I’m suspended today, so let’s have a look at what’s on offer for me at Wexford tomorrow. I begin on Strain Of Fame for Willie Mullins in the first, a maiden hurdle.
You can essentially sum up his prospects by saying that if the real Strain Of Fame turns up then he’ll win and if it doesn’t then, obviously, won’t.
He performed very badly at Listowel last time and has no chance in that sort of mood. But, prior to that, was a close second to Gimli’s Rock at Ballinrobe.
I know he was getting a bucket of weight from Gimli’s Rock, but he’s a good horse and that piece of form alone is certainly good enough.
I’ve got the nod from Martin Brassil to partner Glorach in another maiden hurdle. He had three runs on the flat for Tony Mullins, but has been absent now for over a year.
He has schooled nicely and Martin is expecting him to go well. But Glorach has been off a long time and this will be his first outing over jumps, so I couldn’t go telling anyone to back him.
I’m on Forever Man for Paul Flynn in a novice hurdle and he is hard to fancy. It’s his first run for Paul, who thinks he might be a chaser, so we’ll have to see how it goes.
I end on one of Willie’s, Otay Kawn, in a beginners chase. The best way to describe him is frustrating and I’m quite sure that Willie, at least at some stage, had far bigger plans than this.
That said, he has loads of experience and ran a blinder in a handicap behind Chasing Cars at the Punchestown Festival in April.
Mind you the way Willie’s horses performed at Punchestown, I’d say he would have got Neddy the donkey to be on the premises.
Anyway, I’ve ridden work on the horse and schooled him of late and he’s in really good shape and heading to Wexford with solid prospects.
I believe Willie’s Sir Vincent will win the opening maiden hurdle at Wexford today, in the hands of Paul Townend.
I managed to get him beaten at Gowran Park, when coming about an hour too soon. No matter what Paul does, their is no way he can give Sir Vincent a worse drive than that.
I fancy two horses of Paul Nicholls’ at Chepstow this afternoon, Silviniaco Conti and Pistolet Noir. The former bolted in at Bangor two weeks ago and has a decent shout in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle.
Pistolet Noir has done particularly well over the summer and shouldn’t be far away in a handicap hurdle.
If I was riding today, I’m sure I’d be at Aintree for Poquelin in the Old Roan Chase. He has a bit of improvement to find, but will love travelling left-handed, will love the ground and is best fresh.
I hope he wins for Barry Geraghty, I think he will, but suspect I will not enjoy watching the race!
