Ch. 4 Morning Line, The National.......

I only caught 5 mins if it due to work but I am surprised and impressed thst Campbell aced the Guest Test! I'll catch up on the whole thing later!
 
Alec Swan said:
I thought as much. So the jockey's need training do they? I give up.

Alec.
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Do not normally disagree with you Alec, but, this time I do. Alice Plunkett did not say jockeys need training, what she said was, that when she rode in the Foxhunters, she walked the course three times, one of which was with Marcus Armytage who had ridden it many times before and gave her advice, particularly on riding first fence, she made the point that the national fences are unlike any others and that some jockeys will not have ridden over anything like that before. Given that Alice also said that her husband was the worlds no 1 eventer and continually still had lessons, in all three phases, I thought her idea that jockeys walked course with experienced riders was very fair, I am sorry I cannot remember all of whom she named, but one that did stick in my memory was Ruby Walsh, I do think she spoke well and she did make the point that she was NOT blaming jockeys. So be fair.
 
I saw the ML and I do have to agree that Alice’s suggestion made some sense. And not just for riding the National fences.
Jockey’s tend to get ‘training’ when they break the rules, particularly in relation to use of the whip and of course, they have great back up in terms of medical assistance. But what on the job training do they actually have ? Most people in their day to day work have some sort of training either as part of their development or as part of H&S initiatives etc etc. As jockeys have one of the most dangerous jobs going, especially the jump lads, why should they not have assistance on course riding. Some courses take a hell of a lot of riding – I bet the railway fences at Sandown require some prior knowledge before riding, for a start. They are very tricky.

I don’t know how many of the lads riding in this year’s National had even been round the course before, in the Topham, for instance, but maybe that’s a requirement as well – no first time National jocks if they’ve not been round the course before in a lesser race.
And even the experience jockeys could do with some pointers. Everyone assumes that because they’re long in the tooth pro’s that they can ride the National fences in their sleep, but for me, there are very few who have really mastered the art with the exception of perhaps Ruby, Barry, and Paul Carberry (I’m sure there are others who are OK, but those 3 stand out for me).
I don’t think jockeys are to blame, but I think they can be advised better.
 
I wonder who would be in a position to advise professional jockeys how to ride the National? There are plenty of senior jockeys in the weighing room who will give advice, and the trainer will instruct the jockey on the weaknesses and strengths of his mount.
I believe the Clerk of the Course or the Starter will give some advice before the race, which usually goes along the lines of "don't go too fast in to the first"
 
I didn't see the ML, so I can't comment specifically on Alice P's comments. However, pertinent to the issue of jockeys and their choices - I did hear someone (I can't remember who) talking after the National about the changes to Becher's. This person was saying that they had been talking to one of the jocks about how he was going to ride the race, and this particular jockey said that he'd be taking a tighter line at Becher's than he had in previous years because it's been 'flattened out'.

It's my firm belief that the changes to the fences have reduced the level of respect the jockeys afford them, and that this leads to jockeys inevitably taking more risks. I'm not suggesting for a moment that jockeys disregard safety and put the horses (or themselves) in jeopardy but it is a race and if they think they can get away with tighter lines and taking strides out to gain an advantage, they're bound to and we can't blame them for that.

I think that the fence changes are misguided and simplistic and are born of a wish to pander to the ignorant viewing public and the idiotic, opportunist RSPCA.
 
AMH said:
This person was saying that they had been talking to one of the jocks about how he was going to ride the race, and this particular jockey said that he'd be taking a tighter line at Becher's than he had in previous years because it's been 'flattened out'.

It's my firm belief that the changes to the fences have reduced the level of respect the jockeys afford them, and that this leads to jockeys inevitably taking more risks. I'm not suggesting for a moment that jockeys disregard safety and put the horses (or themselves) in jeopardy but it is a race and if they think they can get away with tighter lines and taking strides out to gain an advantage, they're bound to and we can't blame them for that.
QUOTE]

This is exactly the observation from a jockey friend (who has ridden in the GN several times) that there is now too much bunching, tight lines, and lack of presentation of horses at the fences. I mentioned this in a post on another thread.

As for walking the course with jockeys or a pre-race lecture would it work once that tape goes up and the adrenalin kicks in? How experienced is AP around Aintree? Yet he seems to hold a pretty high statistical record for falling over the GN fences.
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Look at the number of first time jockeys that do well though - "Slippers" Madden - first time in the National and indeed over those fences and he won. The lad who was 2nd this year as well was his first time over them. It's usually the ones that haven't had much if any experience of the fences that give them the most respect and set their horses up for them. THe old pros just go round for the most part without too much thinking being involved.
 
Freddie19 said:
Do not normally disagree with you Alec, but, this time I do. ....... So be fair.
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I'll accept your rebuke!! The delightful Alice P generally makes sense, but I just wish that she'd been a little more robust in her comments. I accept that there is limited time on a television programme, but I felt that the whole subject was rather dismissed. I'd have been interested in John Francome's opinions, but he wasn't present.

My real point is though, that we can't simply dismiss public opinion. By acting upon the advice of the RSPCA, the situation has worsened, not improved. As a salve to public opinion, racing has acquiesced and handed over the decisions which need facing, to a collection of clowns, and I agree with the sentiments below.
AMH said:
.............I think that the fence changes are misguided and simplistic and are born of a wish to pander to the ignorant viewing public and the idiotic, opportunist RSPCA.
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Those who direct racing need to face the problems and take charge of the situation, instead of getting themselves tangled up in their own starting tape and passing the decision making to a group who haven't a clue what they're talking about.

Alec.
 
the start was embarrassing, AP was still down at Beechers collecting syncronised and there were jockeys at the start goggles down, revving their horses not listening to the starter or the other jockeys and surprise surprise they ran through the tapes.
 
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