Cheltenham day 4

Hi Elf,

I really enjoyed watching today's racing, but I'm wondering about the TV post-race interviewing of the winning jockey whilst still on board, and before the horse is returned to the unsaddling enclosure. I wonder if this interviewing is welcomed or considered a hindrance by the trainer and team?

I may be totally wrong here, but to me it seems that the interviewing delays the team attending to the horse, often after a very strenuous race. I remember an occasion (not Cheltenham) when the horse in question had had a very tough race and was clearly struggling, but the interview continued.

I guess it's all part of the TV contracts, but it just made me think how it could be improved to ensure that the horse could be attended to without being delayed.
 
Hi Elf,

I really enjoyed watching today's racing, but I'm wondering about the TV post-race interviewing of the winning jockey whilst still on board, and before the horse is returned to the unsaddling enclosure. I wonder if this interviewing is welcomed or considered a hindrance by the trainer and team?

I may be totally wrong here, but to me it seems that the interviewing delays the team attending to the horse, often after a very strenuous race. I remember an occasion (not Cheltenham) when the horse in question had had a very tough race and was clearly struggling, but the interview continued.

I guess it's all part of the TV contracts, but it just made me think how it could be improved to ensure that the horse could be attended to without being delayed.

There's actually nothing stopping the groom from running down to the horse or the vets/assistants throwing water over the horse whilst the interview is happening. It's a very long way from let off point and groom viewing area to pull up area hence why it takes a while for the grooms to get there. The jockeys are in the right by keeping the horses moving as its when they stop they are at their most dangerous if they are slightly too hot. Keeping them moving keeps the brain focused, the blood moving and muscles cooling down. If a jockey thought the horse was in trouble they would get off and shout for water interview be damned.
 
Not seen any updates.

Just watched the hunter chase final - the loose horses particularly the one who basically stopped then when his mates with riders on caught up got going again. And the horse in the hurdles race that decided he’d go round the side through the wing instead of jumping. He looked fairly straight into the fence but can’t have been.
 
There's actually nothing stopping the groom from running down to the horse or the vets/assistants throwing water over the horse whilst the interview is happening. It's a very long way from let off point and groom viewing area to pull up area hence why it takes a while for the grooms to get there. The jockeys are in the right by keeping the horses moving as its when they stop they are at their most dangerous if they are slightly too hot. Keeping them moving keeps the brain focused, the blood moving and muscles cooling down. If a jockey thought the horse was in trouble they would get off and shout for water interview be damned.

Thanks so much Elf, that's a great reply and has put my mind at rest! Thanks 😊
 
Just watching Jupiter Du Gite, how do you even begin to deal with something like that?! No way would I be getting on that I'd get completely carted! Is he that unmanageable you couldn't teach him to settle at the back to try and calm him as he just wasted his chance before even starting? Looked like they were using some sort of gag too

Makes you wonder what sort of a future he could have outside racing on retirement as I can't imagine him being able to be retrained?

I'm being drawn to nosebands and who undoes them, interesting how WM mostly uses cavessons
 
Just watching Jupiter Du Gite, how do you even begin to deal with something like that?! No way would I be getting on that I'd get completely carted! Is he that unmanageable you couldn't teach him to settle at the back to try and calm him as he just wasted his chance before even starting? Looked like they were using some sort of gag too

Makes you wonder what sort of a future he could have outside racing on retirement as I can't imagine him being able to be retrained?

I'm being drawn to nosebands and who undoes them, interesting how WM mostly uses cavessons

Niall Houlihan certainly earned his riding fee there! 😬

WM horses wear a range of nosebands. Some horses go completely without, some cavessons, some cross nosebands (old fashioned grackles - no american/mexican grackles). Generally the minimum possible, but if it needs a cross noseband it will get one.
 
Just watching Jupiter Du Gite, how do you even begin to deal with something like that?! No way would I be getting on that I'd get completely carted! Is he that unmanageable you couldn't teach him to settle at the back to try and calm him as he just wasted his chance before even starting? Looked like they were using some sort of gag too

Makes you wonder what sort of a future he could have outside racing on retirement as I can't imagine him being able to be retrained?

I'm being drawn to nosebands and who undoes them, interesting how WM mostly uses cavessons

He might not be that bad to ride at home and the races just sets his tail on fire. We have a few like that - pushy cats at home, live wires at the races. Or he could be a complete and utter lunatic at home too.
 
He might not be that bad to ride at home and the races just sets his tail on fire. We have a few like that - pushy cats at home, live wires at the races. Or he could be a complete and utter lunatic at home too.

Mick Fitz said on the commentary he has to be ridden out on his own at home and is a bit of a 'nut job'
 
Just watching Jupiter Du Gite, how do you even begin to deal with something like that?! No way would I be getting on that I'd get completely carted! Is he that unmanageable you couldn't teach him to settle at the back to try and calm him as he just wasted his chance before even starting? Looked like they were using some sort of gag too

Makes you wonder what sort of a future he could have outside racing on retirement as I can't imagine him being able to be retrained?

I'm being drawn to nosebands and who undoes them, interesting how WM mostly uses cavessons
When he ran and won at Newbury he said in the post race interview he was absolutely mad at home as well - Mr Frisk who won the National was very hot to train and Tracy Bailey used to lead him off another horse in exercise at home
 
Just watching Jupiter Du Gite, how do you even begin to deal with something like that?! No way would I be getting on that I'd get completely carted! Is he that unmanageable you couldn't teach him to settle at the back to try and calm him as he just wasted his chance before even starting? Looked like they were using some sort of gag too

Makes you wonder what sort of a future he could have outside racing on retirement as I can't imagine him being able to be retrained?

I'm being drawn to nosebands and who undoes them, interesting how WM mostly uses cavessons
And Jipcot was on the slightly nuts scale as well
 
When he ran and won at Newbury he said in the post race interview he was absolutely mad at home as well - Mr Frisk who won the National was very hot to train and Tracy Bailey used to lead him off another horse in exercise at home
Mr Frisk went eventing didn’t he from memory?
 
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