‘Throwing more cash on the prime isn’t how one can repair it’

Retired three-time Irish champion jockey Davy Russell slams the negativity surrounding the state of leap racing in England

I’ve heard a lot negativity about racing being in disarray not too long ago, and it hit fever pitch on the Cheltenham Pageant, the place everyone appeared to have a nasty information story. However inside the sport, it feels the exact opposite and that makes it laborious to take heed to.

On the Pageant final week, we noticed some sensible horses, incredible coaching performances and top-notch jockeys. Possibly the Queen Mom Champion Chase wasn’t essentially the most aggressive race on the planet, however these contests all the time undergo phases. It’s the identical with the Champion Hurdle, the place it’s notoriously laborious for 3 or 4 top-class hurdlers to hit at one time.

The racecourse appeared full sufficient, there was an awesome ambiance and but folks saved banging on about racing not being in an excellent place as a result of for the primary two days, the Irish saved profitable. However that completely modified on Thursday, when Dan Skelton, Paul Nicholls, Ben Pauling and Jeremy Scott all flew the British flag and the success continued into Friday.

Nicky Henderson had a irritating week, operating simply 50% of his horses after considerations emerged about his secure’s type. He was in a troublesome scenario however he made the best resolution to not run lots of them. Had he been within the combine along with his horses operating as much as scratch and, let’s say for argument’s sake, his red-hot favourites comparable to Structure Hill and Sir Gino had gained, we’d have been right down to the nitty-gritty of British trainers performing very strongly certainly.

Gold Cup glory

Paul Townend created historical past when he joined Pat Taaffe as a winner of 4 Gold Cups and there’s a good likelihood he’ll win one other and break that report. It feels as if he’s typically anticipated to win on Willie Mullins’ horses, however it’s not that straightforward, so I don’t assume he will get the plaudits he deserves.

Ben Jones, Danny Gilligan and John Dawson had been a few of the first-time Pageant winners to catch my eye, and Dan Skelton put his hand as much as say he’s extra than simply an up-and-coming coach now – he’s a power to be reckoned with on the prime degree.

An array of various house owners and syndicates loved large success, with some costly horses justifying their price ticket. However whereas it was a pity €850 (£800) buy Hewick didn’t run, there have been loads of low-cost horses proving you don’t essentially want a few hundred grand to purchase a Cheltenham horse.

Even JP McManus, who has invested in and performs an enormous half in our trade, bred two Pageant winners and that’s an enormous feat.

Doom and gloom?

Julie Harrington, CEO of the British Horseracing Authority, was one to throw her opinion on the perceived doom and gloom surrounding the game, and her answer to redress the Irish-British equilibrium was to throw more cash on the prime of the game. However that’s not the best approach to repair it.

There’s lots of racing in England, and maybe we’d like the vast majority of it, but when an proprietor, coach or a syndicate goes to the races and doesn’t even cowl their day’s prices in prize cash, then you have got an issue.

It annoys me that in showjumping in Eire, they throw cash on the prime finish, however they put subsequent to nothing into the center to backside finish of the game. Everyone seems to be striving to get to the highest, however solely a small minority succeed.

Showjumping is such a marvellous sport so all of us proceed to do it, and it’s the identical for any equestrian self-discipline, together with racing. But when anybody noticed how a lot work I used to be doing with our showjumping ponies, all the cash it prices and energy behind the scenes, actually for a rosette, they’d say I’d need my head examined!

So in case you throw cash on the prime finish of racing, then the underside finish goes to fall underneath as a result of it doesn’t matter what stroll of life you’re in, the foundations must be constructed from the underside. Everyone is aware of they’re not going to get wealthy from racing, however what they’d like is for it to not value as a lot.

For those who’re placing some huge cash into it, having success but nonetheless getting no return, that’s disheartening and that’s how you’ll in a short time lose folks from the trade.

● Do you agree with Davy’s views on the state of the game? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your identify, nearest city and nation, for the prospect in your letter to look in a forthcoming concern of the journal

• This unique column may also be accessible to learn in Horse & Hound journal, on sale Thursday 14 March

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