Dobbin scrapes home as he bids farewell
Tony Dobbin chose to end his illustrious career at his local track of Carlisle and was rewarded with a winner on his very last ride before retirement.
But the celebrations of the Grand National-winning jockey following the win of Ballyvoge in the Dobbs Finale & Future Best Wishes Novices’ Chase were almost overshadowed by subsequent events in the stewards’ room.
Michael McAlister, the rider of runner-up Lord Samposin, was found in breach of Rule 157 and referred to the British Horseracing Authority. The horse’s trainer Maurice Barnes was found not to be in breach of any rule.
Rule 157 comes under the ’Intent To Conceal’ banner but McAlister, who had twice dropped his reins briefly on the run-in, said: “I gave the horse every chance and that is the best race he has ever run.
“If he had not made that blunder at the third-last he would have made up that three-quarters of a length. He is a big gangly horse, 17.2 hands, and takes a lot of organising and lot of holding together, he is not very experienced.
“They (the stewards) listened to what I said to a certain extent, but they had a mindset on.”
Barnes could not understand the decision and said: “They have done Michael for not trying, he hit him five times, four good ones and a slap from the last. As far as I am concerned he was doing his best.”
Sixth in the all-time list of winning-most jump jockeys in Britain, Dobbin is to learn the ropes of the training game as he prepares to assist his partner Rose Davidson at purpose-built yard in 2009.
Ballyvoge paraded in front of the cheering crowds in the grandstands before making his way back to the chute off the course, where Dobbin’s boss and winning trainer Nicky Richards was the first to greet horse and rider.
Racegoers continued the applause as he entered the winner’s enclosure and Dobbin admitted: “I was very emotional as a result of the reception from racegoers in the grandstands as we cantered to post.
“I was in tears, but I wasn’t after the race – I was too tired.
“When I came over here 20 years ago (from Ireland) my aim was to be a successful jockey and now I want to make a success of training with Rose.”
Richards said: “That was just the job, one thing about this man, if he is a couple of lengths clear at the last he doesn’t get caught many times does he?
“You have to be a top jockey to ride as many winners as Tony has and he has played a great part at Greystoke. When we had one ready for big race and we had done our job right, 99 times out of 100 he would do his job.
“I think he had great confidence in us and we had great confidence in him - and you never had to give him any instructions, he knew what he had to do and did it.”
