Horse racing A to Z of 2006
By Niall Cronin
A: Alexandrova from the Aidan O'Brien yard improved immensely from her two-year-old days to land this year’s Vodafone Oaks at Epsom, the Irish Oaks at the Curragh and the Yorkshire Oaks at York. Despite being beaten on his seasonal debut the filly went on to prove herself as a filly with real class.
B: Brassil and Bolger. Both Curragh handlers had seasons to remember in 2006. Martin Brassil sent his first ever runner to the Aintree Grand National and 11/1 shot Numbersixvalverde done him proud beating 2005 winner Hedgehunter. With horses like Nickname and Ambobo also in the stable, Brassil is certainly moving up the training ranks. While Jim Bolger has been receiving plenty of accolades following the success this year of Teofilo. The two-year old gave us many moments to remember, beginning his career by winning a maiden in July and going on to land the Group 2 Futurity Stakes, the Group 1 National Stakes and the Dewhurst at Newmarket. Teofilo is a horse that many are looking forward to seeing in 2007.
C: Curragh - 'Home of the Classics' the Curragh failed to disappoint yet again this year. Dylan Thomas winning the Derby, Holy Roman Emperor winning the Phoenix Stakes, Hurricane Run's victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup as well as the aforementioned Teofilo added to a year to remember. The inaugural running of the Shelbourne Goffs Million in conjunction with the Ryder Cup Race Day was another marvellous success and with redevelopment works beginning this year Irish flat racing's HQ continues to go from strength to strength.
D: Declan McDonagh was this year crowned champion flat jockey for the first time with 89 winners. The Kilcullen resident who originates from Co Meath is attached to the Kevin Prendergast yard and the two combined to have a 2006 to remember with success in the Goffs Million being the highlight. Another red letter day for McDonagh was when he rode his first winner at Royal Ascot, while he recently received the flat award at the Irish Racing annual awards.
E: Enthralling races and finishes is one thing that makes racing what it is and 2006 gave us many enthralling finishes to remember. At the Cheltenham festival few will forget the run in from the final hurdle and the battle between My Way De Solzen and Mick Halford's Golden Cross with Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, My Way De Solzen getting up by just a head. While few will forget the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown with Dylan Thomas getting back up to defeat super mare Ouija Board. Teofilo is a horse that just keeps coming up and his battling performance when beating Holy Roman Emperor in the Dewhurst at Newmarket has been described as one of the races of the year.
F: Farewell Flyer. 2006 saw the retirement of one of the best jumpers of his time. Moscow Flyer went to Cheltenham in March with many hoping that their favourite would be able to land yet another Queen Mother Champion Chase. Unfortunately though Moscow failed to do so and despite running on to finish a gallant fifth, he failed to recapture the form of previous years that saw him win the Champion Chase, the Melling Chase, the Tingle Creek and the Irish Champion Chase. All in all Moscow won 19 of his 33 races and was the apple of trainer Jessica Harrington's eye. He may be gone but it will be a long time before he's forgotten.
G: Galway's seven day festival continues to get better with age just like a good wine. Like Galway and indeed a good wine Dermot Weld seems to also be getting better with age especially at Ballybrit. The master of Rosewell House on the Curragh yet again claimed top trainer of the week in the West with the only disappointment being that course specialist Ansar failed to land another Galway Plate. It was a great week also for Paddy Flood when he proved a more then adequate substitute for the injured Barry Geraghty. The native of Cutbush picked up a chance spare ride aboard Cuan Na Grai in the Galway hurdle and the pair went on to land the spoils in what was a great week for Kildare connections with Michael Halford's Quinmaster landing the Galway mile.
H: Horses are naturally what this part of this newspaper is all about and the racing public are honoured to be able to read, write, watch and listen to stories about some of the Irish horses doing us proud. Golden Cross’ head defeat was how close Irish trained horses came to making it a clean sweep of the four big races at Cheltenham. In Aintree Numbersixvalverde led home a 1-2-4-5 for Ireland with Clan Royal narrowly holding off Nil Desperandum. On the flat Teofilo proved he is one of the best two-year olds in training while Holy Roman Emperor is not too far behind. Alexander Goldrun looks a very decent filly while Dylan Thomas looks a hot prospect for 2007. Ireland is by far top of the equestrian world and long may it continue.
I: Injuries are unfortunately part and parcel of horse racing and this year they cost the racing public the chance to see Kicking King line up for the Gold Cup and Feathered Lady take on stablemate Brave Inca in the Champion Hurdle. While both have been ruled out for some time yet again after suffering more setbacks, Golden Cross' future looks in doubt after trainer Mick Halford admitted that he could have run his last race. Missed That was a fatality on the gallops recently and the likes of Harchibald, Macs Joy and Essex all had minor setbacks. Major increases in horses having to be destroyed at Cheltenham is another sad fact but while it is part of racing we all hope that similar incidents are to a minimum in 2007.
J: Jockeys are often recognised as the bravest sports personalities around (not often enough) and we are lucky to be in an era of some of the top jocks around. While Tony McCoy's record speaks for itself local jockeys are continuing to conquer. Ruby Walsh is without doubt not just one of the best of his generation but the four time champion jockey will go down in time as on of the best ever national hunt jockeys ever. While his sister Katie is continuing the family tradition as she remains at the top of the amateur pile along with Nina Carberry. Niall Madden landed the Aintree Grand National at just 20 years young and Paddy Flood has turned his career around in the last seven months. Andrew Leigh looks like he will go on to be champion conditional this year and the conveyor belt just keeps going and going and long may it continue.
K: Kieren Fallon yet again showed what a true horseman he is and was the toast of many punters throughout the year but in the second half of 2006 the Clare man was followed by a cloud of controversy no matter where he went. Allegations of race fixing started it all off and while that
A-ZOF 2006
investigation is ongoing Fallon is banned from race riding in Great Britain. Denied a licence to ride in America was a blow and Hong Kong authorities followed suit before traces of a banned substance saw Ballydoyle's number one pick up a six-month ban in France. As we go into the turn of the year question marks remain over his future at the head of the Coolmore enterprise but despite all the gloom few will forget the resounding reception he got at the Galway festival, after the Champion Stakes and so many times at the Curragh.
L: Legend is a word often overused but in November racing lost one of its true legends following the death of Desert Orchid. At 27 years of age Dessie still managed to excite the many people who visited him on a weekly basis as they remembered some of his glory days. An Irish national winner, the grey took over the hearts of those who didn't even follow horseracing. He also won four King Georges on his way to recording 34 wins in an illustrious career.
M: Miss Beatrix, owned by successful owner Bill Durkan, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Declan McDonagh won the inaugural running of the Shelbourne Goffs Million topping off a great year for Durkan, Prendergast and McDonagh. The 6/1 shot claimed the richest prize for two year olds in Europe when defeating Regime by a 11/4l. No matter what the horse goes on to do next year she will owe connections nothing and will always have a very fond place in their memories.
N: Naas Racecourse signed off with its last meeting of the year last month and action returns to Woodlands Park on 7 January but it will return without manager Margaret McGuinness. Tom Ryan will take over the reigns from McGuinness who over the decades has brought Naas racecourse on and on, making it one of the most enjoyable tracks to visit in Ireland. Big crowds continued to gather there again this year in what was another successful year and while all involved will be sad to see the end of Margaret’s time at the track we look forward to seeing the racecourse continue to prosper in 2007 under Tom Ryan.
O: One better than last year was how the Irish fared out at Cheltenham this year and what a festival it was. With Kicking King ruled out and a couple of fancied runners defeated early in the week, many doubted how we would rack up a creditable total. In fact it turned out to be one of the best festivals in a long time with Ireland sending home the 1-2-3-4 in the Champion hurdle. In the Champion Chase it was 1-2-4-5-6 for the Irish while in the Gold Cup it was an Irish trained 1-2-3. The ten festival winners were: Brave Inca, War Of Attrition, Newmill, Sky's The Limit, Nicanor, Native Jack, Dun Doire, Whyso Mayo, Kadoun and Hairy Molly. Here's to 11 next year!
P: Punchestown's four day festival broke more records this year when a record 85,157 went through the turnstiles of the home of National Hunt Racing. A report found that the festival brings in a massive •43 million to the local economy over that week and that tells a lot of stories in itself. On the track, Cheltenham heroes War Of Attrition and Newmill came back to win while Macs Joy gamely defeated Brave Inca. Iktitaf and Missed That were impressive in a novice hurdle and novice chase respectively and Asian Maze looked impressive in the stayers hurdle. The festival is back to its best and on its way to being better then ever.
Q: Quatre Heures from the Willie Mullins yard is another who impressed at Punchestown when landing the champion 4 year old hurdle under Mick Fitzgerald. In what was a decent contest he clearly pleased his trainer who also saddled Mister Hight in the same race. Speaking to the Kildare Nationalist earlier this year Mullins stated that "If he continues to improve he could make the Champion Hurdle list." He could just be one to follow on his return to action.
R: Ruby Walsh just keeps going and going and cementing his place in racing folklore. He was champion jockey for the fourth time and is on the way to a fifth title. Ruby also claimed a third Kerry National this year and was top jockey at Galway. Week in week out he continues to mix his riding duties between Ireland and England where he is stable jockey to champion English trainer Paul Nicholls. Recently he received the National Hunt award at the Irish Racing annual awards while few will forget the ride he gave Noland at Cheltenham when he was seventh jumping the final hurdle and the Kill man just got his charge up on the line.
S: Slippers' Madden will reflect fondly on the previous 12 months but one day in particular will stand out. On 8 April, Slippers (son of Niall Snr, Boots) went to Aintree to ride Numbersixvalverde in the Grand National, the most famous steeplechase in the world. On his first attempt in the race he would have been pleased to get around safe, but to jump the last upsides Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh on the two market principles it was a dream come through. There was no time for dreaming however as the Naas man kicked on to steer Martin Brassil's charge to a six length victory over Hedgehunter. Madden went on to add a Munster National to his portfolio when partnering Pearly Jack to success at Limerick.
T: Trainers in Kildare yet again had another very successful year with the likes of Kevin
Prendergast, John Oxx, Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger all making the usual headlines it was also a good year numerically for Clane man Ger Lyons who trains in Co Meath. Frank Ennis saw Confuchious give him his first Group 3 success after many years of trying, while Con Collins can look back on a good 12 months. National hunt wise, Martin Brassil's Grand National success led to many a party on the Curragh as Jessica Harrington, Dessie Hughes, Mick O’Brien and Arthur Moore continue to add to their reputation. Outside the thoroughbred county Aidan O’Brien is still the envy of all flat trainers and on a smaller note trainers like Ado McGuiness and Peter Casey can be proud of 2006. Noel Meade and Willie Mullins meanwhile continue to top the national hunt charts which is now getting extremely competitive. Paul Nolan and Charlie Swan are just two of the young guns making their way up the ranks.
U: Unrivalled was the atmosphere as yet another Irish winner came in to the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham, as Numbersixvalverde was led back in at Aintree, the reception for Dylan Thomas at Leopardstown and the Curragh and Kieren Fallon's personal reception at Galway. There is just something special about the welcoming that the horse racing world can give you, yes Croke Park on All Ireland Final day or the old Wembley on FA Cup final day are great atmospheres, but a roar from thousands of race goers is something different that must be heard to be understood.
V: Voy Por Ustedes gets the nod to come under V. Winner of the Arkle at Cheltenham last season he made his seasonal reappearance when finishing second to the much hyped Kauto Star. Trained in England by Alan King and ridden by Robert Thornton he is a horse that is another to watch over the coming year. He did nothing wrong in 2006 and there is no reason to say why that will change in 2007.
W: War of Attrition received the Horse of the Year award at the HRI annual Horse Racing Awards and he had to shrug off some very decent challengers to claim that accolade. But the Gold Cup winner, owned by Mr Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, improved from his run when defeated by Beef Or Salmon to take the big one at Cheltenham. He returned to Punchestown to land the Guinness Gold Cup and his recent run at the same track in the John Durkan Memorial Chase impressed many as it was over a trip and on ground that he would not favour. Could he be the next Best Mate? Why not? Ask Ruby Walsh, Paul Nicholls or Kauto Star.
X: X-Rays are part and parcel of a jockeys career and again little is it ever commented on. Little over
•100 is what each jockey knows he will be guaranteed come his arrival back in the weigh room. If he is lucky enough to win or be placed 10% of the prize money will be his but if he falls its a different story. Most national hunt jockeys go through a stage in the season where they could be sidelined for a number of weeks or months. Some jockeys more then others but once that happens they don't get paid. One ride for less the •200 could ruin a jockeys season but thank God this year a few x-rays was the height of it and there were no fatalities like a couple of years ago.
Y: Y oh Y oh Y does the racing world still fail to get the recognition it deserves? Yet again on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award Tony McCoy was somehow omitted while the powers that be also deicide that Martin Pipe was not worthy of a stage appearance to speak on his retirement following an illustrious career that saw him be crowned Champion trainer 15 times. What do these people have to do. If your an English tennis player and you win one round at Wimbledon your automatically at the head of the market to win that years award. While on these shores we are blessed to have the likes of Ruby Walsh, Paul Carberry, Willie Mullins, and Noel Meade but the little recognition they get is just not right and hopefully this will begin to change sooner rather than later.
Z: Zinedine Zidane made the headlines for his head butt on Marco Materzzi in the World Cup final but few racing enthusiasts will forget jockey Paul O’Neill head butting City Affair after the pair parted company before the start of a race in England. O’Neill later apologised for his actions saying that he never did it before and will never do it again. In the world cup it was rumoured that Materzzi had said something unkind about Zidane's mother, I doubt City Affair was guilty of a similar offence!
Source www.carlow-nationalist.ie
A: Alexandrova from the Aidan O'Brien yard improved immensely from her two-year-old days to land this year’s Vodafone Oaks at Epsom, the Irish Oaks at the Curragh and the Yorkshire Oaks at York. Despite being beaten on his seasonal debut the filly went on to prove herself as a filly with real class.
B: Brassil and Bolger. Both Curragh handlers had seasons to remember in 2006. Martin Brassil sent his first ever runner to the Aintree Grand National and 11/1 shot Numbersixvalverde done him proud beating 2005 winner Hedgehunter. With horses like Nickname and Ambobo also in the stable, Brassil is certainly moving up the training ranks. While Jim Bolger has been receiving plenty of accolades following the success this year of Teofilo. The two-year old gave us many moments to remember, beginning his career by winning a maiden in July and going on to land the Group 2 Futurity Stakes, the Group 1 National Stakes and the Dewhurst at Newmarket. Teofilo is a horse that many are looking forward to seeing in 2007.
C: Curragh - 'Home of the Classics' the Curragh failed to disappoint yet again this year. Dylan Thomas winning the Derby, Holy Roman Emperor winning the Phoenix Stakes, Hurricane Run's victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup as well as the aforementioned Teofilo added to a year to remember. The inaugural running of the Shelbourne Goffs Million in conjunction with the Ryder Cup Race Day was another marvellous success and with redevelopment works beginning this year Irish flat racing's HQ continues to go from strength to strength.
D: Declan McDonagh was this year crowned champion flat jockey for the first time with 89 winners. The Kilcullen resident who originates from Co Meath is attached to the Kevin Prendergast yard and the two combined to have a 2006 to remember with success in the Goffs Million being the highlight. Another red letter day for McDonagh was when he rode his first winner at Royal Ascot, while he recently received the flat award at the Irish Racing annual awards.
E: Enthralling races and finishes is one thing that makes racing what it is and 2006 gave us many enthralling finishes to remember. At the Cheltenham festival few will forget the run in from the final hurdle and the battle between My Way De Solzen and Mick Halford's Golden Cross with Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, My Way De Solzen getting up by just a head. While few will forget the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown with Dylan Thomas getting back up to defeat super mare Ouija Board. Teofilo is a horse that just keeps coming up and his battling performance when beating Holy Roman Emperor in the Dewhurst at Newmarket has been described as one of the races of the year.
F: Farewell Flyer. 2006 saw the retirement of one of the best jumpers of his time. Moscow Flyer went to Cheltenham in March with many hoping that their favourite would be able to land yet another Queen Mother Champion Chase. Unfortunately though Moscow failed to do so and despite running on to finish a gallant fifth, he failed to recapture the form of previous years that saw him win the Champion Chase, the Melling Chase, the Tingle Creek and the Irish Champion Chase. All in all Moscow won 19 of his 33 races and was the apple of trainer Jessica Harrington's eye. He may be gone but it will be a long time before he's forgotten.
G: Galway's seven day festival continues to get better with age just like a good wine. Like Galway and indeed a good wine Dermot Weld seems to also be getting better with age especially at Ballybrit. The master of Rosewell House on the Curragh yet again claimed top trainer of the week in the West with the only disappointment being that course specialist Ansar failed to land another Galway Plate. It was a great week also for Paddy Flood when he proved a more then adequate substitute for the injured Barry Geraghty. The native of Cutbush picked up a chance spare ride aboard Cuan Na Grai in the Galway hurdle and the pair went on to land the spoils in what was a great week for Kildare connections with Michael Halford's Quinmaster landing the Galway mile.
H: Horses are naturally what this part of this newspaper is all about and the racing public are honoured to be able to read, write, watch and listen to stories about some of the Irish horses doing us proud. Golden Cross’ head defeat was how close Irish trained horses came to making it a clean sweep of the four big races at Cheltenham. In Aintree Numbersixvalverde led home a 1-2-4-5 for Ireland with Clan Royal narrowly holding off Nil Desperandum. On the flat Teofilo proved he is one of the best two-year olds in training while Holy Roman Emperor is not too far behind. Alexander Goldrun looks a very decent filly while Dylan Thomas looks a hot prospect for 2007. Ireland is by far top of the equestrian world and long may it continue.
I: Injuries are unfortunately part and parcel of horse racing and this year they cost the racing public the chance to see Kicking King line up for the Gold Cup and Feathered Lady take on stablemate Brave Inca in the Champion Hurdle. While both have been ruled out for some time yet again after suffering more setbacks, Golden Cross' future looks in doubt after trainer Mick Halford admitted that he could have run his last race. Missed That was a fatality on the gallops recently and the likes of Harchibald, Macs Joy and Essex all had minor setbacks. Major increases in horses having to be destroyed at Cheltenham is another sad fact but while it is part of racing we all hope that similar incidents are to a minimum in 2007.
J: Jockeys are often recognised as the bravest sports personalities around (not often enough) and we are lucky to be in an era of some of the top jocks around. While Tony McCoy's record speaks for itself local jockeys are continuing to conquer. Ruby Walsh is without doubt not just one of the best of his generation but the four time champion jockey will go down in time as on of the best ever national hunt jockeys ever. While his sister Katie is continuing the family tradition as she remains at the top of the amateur pile along with Nina Carberry. Niall Madden landed the Aintree Grand National at just 20 years young and Paddy Flood has turned his career around in the last seven months. Andrew Leigh looks like he will go on to be champion conditional this year and the conveyor belt just keeps going and going and long may it continue.
K: Kieren Fallon yet again showed what a true horseman he is and was the toast of many punters throughout the year but in the second half of 2006 the Clare man was followed by a cloud of controversy no matter where he went. Allegations of race fixing started it all off and while that
A-ZOF 2006
investigation is ongoing Fallon is banned from race riding in Great Britain. Denied a licence to ride in America was a blow and Hong Kong authorities followed suit before traces of a banned substance saw Ballydoyle's number one pick up a six-month ban in France. As we go into the turn of the year question marks remain over his future at the head of the Coolmore enterprise but despite all the gloom few will forget the resounding reception he got at the Galway festival, after the Champion Stakes and so many times at the Curragh.
L: Legend is a word often overused but in November racing lost one of its true legends following the death of Desert Orchid. At 27 years of age Dessie still managed to excite the many people who visited him on a weekly basis as they remembered some of his glory days. An Irish national winner, the grey took over the hearts of those who didn't even follow horseracing. He also won four King Georges on his way to recording 34 wins in an illustrious career.
M: Miss Beatrix, owned by successful owner Bill Durkan, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Declan McDonagh won the inaugural running of the Shelbourne Goffs Million topping off a great year for Durkan, Prendergast and McDonagh. The 6/1 shot claimed the richest prize for two year olds in Europe when defeating Regime by a 11/4l. No matter what the horse goes on to do next year she will owe connections nothing and will always have a very fond place in their memories.
N: Naas Racecourse signed off with its last meeting of the year last month and action returns to Woodlands Park on 7 January but it will return without manager Margaret McGuinness. Tom Ryan will take over the reigns from McGuinness who over the decades has brought Naas racecourse on and on, making it one of the most enjoyable tracks to visit in Ireland. Big crowds continued to gather there again this year in what was another successful year and while all involved will be sad to see the end of Margaret’s time at the track we look forward to seeing the racecourse continue to prosper in 2007 under Tom Ryan.
O: One better than last year was how the Irish fared out at Cheltenham this year and what a festival it was. With Kicking King ruled out and a couple of fancied runners defeated early in the week, many doubted how we would rack up a creditable total. In fact it turned out to be one of the best festivals in a long time with Ireland sending home the 1-2-3-4 in the Champion hurdle. In the Champion Chase it was 1-2-4-5-6 for the Irish while in the Gold Cup it was an Irish trained 1-2-3. The ten festival winners were: Brave Inca, War Of Attrition, Newmill, Sky's The Limit, Nicanor, Native Jack, Dun Doire, Whyso Mayo, Kadoun and Hairy Molly. Here's to 11 next year!
P: Punchestown's four day festival broke more records this year when a record 85,157 went through the turnstiles of the home of National Hunt Racing. A report found that the festival brings in a massive •43 million to the local economy over that week and that tells a lot of stories in itself. On the track, Cheltenham heroes War Of Attrition and Newmill came back to win while Macs Joy gamely defeated Brave Inca. Iktitaf and Missed That were impressive in a novice hurdle and novice chase respectively and Asian Maze looked impressive in the stayers hurdle. The festival is back to its best and on its way to being better then ever.
Q: Quatre Heures from the Willie Mullins yard is another who impressed at Punchestown when landing the champion 4 year old hurdle under Mick Fitzgerald. In what was a decent contest he clearly pleased his trainer who also saddled Mister Hight in the same race. Speaking to the Kildare Nationalist earlier this year Mullins stated that "If he continues to improve he could make the Champion Hurdle list." He could just be one to follow on his return to action.
R: Ruby Walsh just keeps going and going and cementing his place in racing folklore. He was champion jockey for the fourth time and is on the way to a fifth title. Ruby also claimed a third Kerry National this year and was top jockey at Galway. Week in week out he continues to mix his riding duties between Ireland and England where he is stable jockey to champion English trainer Paul Nicholls. Recently he received the National Hunt award at the Irish Racing annual awards while few will forget the ride he gave Noland at Cheltenham when he was seventh jumping the final hurdle and the Kill man just got his charge up on the line.
S: Slippers' Madden will reflect fondly on the previous 12 months but one day in particular will stand out. On 8 April, Slippers (son of Niall Snr, Boots) went to Aintree to ride Numbersixvalverde in the Grand National, the most famous steeplechase in the world. On his first attempt in the race he would have been pleased to get around safe, but to jump the last upsides Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh on the two market principles it was a dream come through. There was no time for dreaming however as the Naas man kicked on to steer Martin Brassil's charge to a six length victory over Hedgehunter. Madden went on to add a Munster National to his portfolio when partnering Pearly Jack to success at Limerick.
T: Trainers in Kildare yet again had another very successful year with the likes of Kevin
Prendergast, John Oxx, Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger all making the usual headlines it was also a good year numerically for Clane man Ger Lyons who trains in Co Meath. Frank Ennis saw Confuchious give him his first Group 3 success after many years of trying, while Con Collins can look back on a good 12 months. National hunt wise, Martin Brassil's Grand National success led to many a party on the Curragh as Jessica Harrington, Dessie Hughes, Mick O’Brien and Arthur Moore continue to add to their reputation. Outside the thoroughbred county Aidan O’Brien is still the envy of all flat trainers and on a smaller note trainers like Ado McGuiness and Peter Casey can be proud of 2006. Noel Meade and Willie Mullins meanwhile continue to top the national hunt charts which is now getting extremely competitive. Paul Nolan and Charlie Swan are just two of the young guns making their way up the ranks.
U: Unrivalled was the atmosphere as yet another Irish winner came in to the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham, as Numbersixvalverde was led back in at Aintree, the reception for Dylan Thomas at Leopardstown and the Curragh and Kieren Fallon's personal reception at Galway. There is just something special about the welcoming that the horse racing world can give you, yes Croke Park on All Ireland Final day or the old Wembley on FA Cup final day are great atmospheres, but a roar from thousands of race goers is something different that must be heard to be understood.
V: Voy Por Ustedes gets the nod to come under V. Winner of the Arkle at Cheltenham last season he made his seasonal reappearance when finishing second to the much hyped Kauto Star. Trained in England by Alan King and ridden by Robert Thornton he is a horse that is another to watch over the coming year. He did nothing wrong in 2006 and there is no reason to say why that will change in 2007.
W: War of Attrition received the Horse of the Year award at the HRI annual Horse Racing Awards and he had to shrug off some very decent challengers to claim that accolade. But the Gold Cup winner, owned by Mr Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, improved from his run when defeated by Beef Or Salmon to take the big one at Cheltenham. He returned to Punchestown to land the Guinness Gold Cup and his recent run at the same track in the John Durkan Memorial Chase impressed many as it was over a trip and on ground that he would not favour. Could he be the next Best Mate? Why not? Ask Ruby Walsh, Paul Nicholls or Kauto Star.
X: X-Rays are part and parcel of a jockeys career and again little is it ever commented on. Little over
•100 is what each jockey knows he will be guaranteed come his arrival back in the weigh room. If he is lucky enough to win or be placed 10% of the prize money will be his but if he falls its a different story. Most national hunt jockeys go through a stage in the season where they could be sidelined for a number of weeks or months. Some jockeys more then others but once that happens they don't get paid. One ride for less the •200 could ruin a jockeys season but thank God this year a few x-rays was the height of it and there were no fatalities like a couple of years ago.
Y: Y oh Y oh Y does the racing world still fail to get the recognition it deserves? Yet again on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award Tony McCoy was somehow omitted while the powers that be also deicide that Martin Pipe was not worthy of a stage appearance to speak on his retirement following an illustrious career that saw him be crowned Champion trainer 15 times. What do these people have to do. If your an English tennis player and you win one round at Wimbledon your automatically at the head of the market to win that years award. While on these shores we are blessed to have the likes of Ruby Walsh, Paul Carberry, Willie Mullins, and Noel Meade but the little recognition they get is just not right and hopefully this will begin to change sooner rather than later.
Z: Zinedine Zidane made the headlines for his head butt on Marco Materzzi in the World Cup final but few racing enthusiasts will forget jockey Paul O’Neill head butting City Affair after the pair parted company before the start of a race in England. O’Neill later apologised for his actions saying that he never did it before and will never do it again. In the world cup it was rumoured that Materzzi had said something unkind about Zidane's mother, I doubt City Affair was guilty of a similar offence!
Source www.carlow-nationalist.ie
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