May - Issue 21 - Free
V O L U M E
OLLY MURPHY INTERVIEW
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I S S U E
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RICHARD JOHNSON INTERVIEW
CONTENTS 4.OUR DUKE FEATURE 5.DAVY RUSSELL 6.LUKE HUMPREYS 7.BRUCE BETTING 8.RACE DISPLAYS 9.ALTIOR FEATURE 10.RICHARD JOHNSON 11.LAWN JOCKEYS 12.LUKE McATEER 13.PHOENIX SYNDICATE 14.GERAINT WILLIAMS 15.MONEY RIDER 16.HAYLEY O’CONNOR
18.FAUGHEEN FEATURE 19.FOOTPAD FEATURE 20.OLLY MURPHY 21.EQUINE MEDI RECORD 22.INSPIRE RACING CLUB 23.EQUI EOLE GLOBEL APP 24.BRIAN TOOMEY 25.LEIGH ROCHE 26.GB HORSE RACING 27.BRUCE BETTING PROMO 28.CHARLIE POSTE 29.TOP OF THE HILL 30.TIPSTERS EMPIRE 31.BETEAST 32.THE RACING STATS APP 33.KOROPICK 34.PIONEER RACING
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OUR DUKE
FAREWELL TO A HERO - BY JOE SMITH
Over the past few weeks the National hunt scene has been frantic. We have had the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals, the Scottish Grand National and the end of season finale at Sandown.
close home from Coney Island and Disko. Although Disko would get revenge the next time they met.
It was on 17th April 2017 when Our Duke would have his finest hour. Connections resisted the temptation that The action on and off the track has been utterly amazing is the Cheltenham Festival and instead opted for the in the month of April. Irish Grand National. During this popular period, it was announced with great sadness that we lost Our Duke.
He had a lovely race weight of 11 stone 4 and was sent off the 9-2 favourite. Always prominent before hitting the Jessie Harrington broke the news on April 19th via her front 4-5 fences from home. Robbie Power sent Our twitter account. He unfortunately suffered a heart attack Duke in search of the finishing line and he was a in his stable. He was just a sprightly 8-year-old entering disappearing target for his all his rivals. He galloped them into submission. It was a fine training performance. the peak of his career. Robbie Power was pure class and grit in the saddle as he allowed Our Duke to find a rhythm and jump at pace before using his staying powers to run away with the race. After this Our Duke would grace the race course 4 more times winning once. Last seen pulling up in the Gold Cup. After his Irish National win, he was being talked up to be serious contender to stable mates Sizing Johns throne to Gold Cup Glory. His career began back in 2015 at Punchestown. He ran away with a national hunt flat race by a wide 21 lengths. Unfortunately, back problems meant we never saw the best of Our Duke in what turned out to be his final Made even more special as he was ridden by Jessies season. daughter Kate. He would then clash heads with Death Duty and come out second best, but his career was nev- Our Duke was one hell of a racehorse. Duke by name er going to be defined by the early stages of his devel- and duke by nature. His lack of respect for a fence made opment. He was always going to be a chaser so what him a handful of a ride but while his errors would have he would achieve over hurdles was a bonus. More of an stopped 90% of horses, he shrugged them off and battled on with the race. He was a tank of a horse with a education process. heart to match. Let’s not remember Our Duke for his The long awaited chase debut would come along at Navan on a chilly December afternoon. He blitzed them final race.
“His Irish National win was the real Our Duke! A race which will be shown on tv for many years to come. A demolition job!”.
in the beginners chase by 11 lengths, but we got shown Let’s remember that young 5-year-old who was destined the first sign of his jumping frailties. His sights were for top over fences. That 7-year-old who reached the top raised later that month when he won his first grade 1. It over fences. was a battle to remember with Our Duke getting up
DAVY RUSSELL
IN A LEGAUE OF HIS OWN - BY JOE SMITH On the 14th April this year. Tiger roll won the Grand National. The little horse with a big heart had defied the odds and bravely swept aside 37 other horses. Jockey Davy Russell was taking part in the race for the 14th time and eventually got his hand on the silverware. Winning such a race thrusts a jockey into the limelight. With his 40th birthday only around the corner, why is it only now that people are starting to appreciate the talents of the great man from County Cork. Not only did he win the Grand National this season. On Saturday he was crowned Irish Champion jockey for the 3rd time. The other two times he gained that title were in 2011/2012 and 2012/13 seasons. Those days he was at the peak of his powers! Retained rider for Gigginstown House Stud. Things took a turn for the worst at the end of that championship winning season though as he was dropped as retained rider for reasons undisclosed. Many a man would let this affect them, but Davy is no ordinary man. He looks stone faced and focussed but beyond that he is a family man who loves one thing. Winning! From 2013 up until 2016 he was riding for many trainers and owners. He didn’t have the success in numbers anymore, but he was still riding big winners. Since his first Cheltenham Festival win he has ridden at least one winner there every year. Gold Cup, Triumph Hurdle, RSA, Ryanair and many more. He has even won the cross country twice. While may top jockeys avoid riding in this race, Davy is always keen to be involved. In 2017 he came full circle. While he is not solely number one rider at Gigginstown, he shares those duties with young Jack Kennedy. Micheal and Edward O’ Leary know what Davy Russell can give them and I think deep down they regret letting him go the first time. That is water under the bridge now as all seems rosy over at champions elect h.q. He has come an awful long way from those early days at Ferdy Murphys fine tuning his craft.
“The way Davy has reacted in the past to controversy is to be admired. They say a man should not be judged on his mistakes but how he overcomes and learns from those mistakes.”
For sure Davy has had ups and downs like many have in the world of National hunt racing. After fulfilling his childhood dream and winning the national he spoke not of himself. But to the death of his mother and the illness of his friend and colleague Pat Smullen. That shows the depth of the man.
His talents on the track are un rivalled. No jockey in the weighing room is as naturally talented in my eyes. He gets horses to jump and run for him. His ride on Whisper in Ladbroke trophy was simply magnificent and he didn’t even win! He gave Tiger Roll a very similar ride at Aintree. He has the ability to guide and carry a horse round to put them into the race and 9 times out of 10 they repay the compliment in the final stages of the race and become one with Davy. Davy Russell has long been one of the top jockeys around. If not the best. He speaks with honesty and rides the same way. He’s an un complicated individual with a love for family. You are a pleasure to watch Davy!
“Congratulations on a season to remember!”.
LUKE HUMPREYS The Australian Racecaller
How did you get interested in Horse Racing? Father Paul has bred harness horses for years, so that was my introduction to harness racing and how my interest for gallops, trotting and greyhounds grew bigger.
Do you have a favourite racing moment from your childhood? Tough one, probably watching our best harness horse, Palais Du Louvre, win races, he was a very good horse for us that gave us plenty of thrills.
As you are a race caller, is there any tips you can share? I’m not working full time at present being only 17 years old, but when I do the occasional meeting on Sky Channel or a non - tab meeting yes it’s four selections and a best bet usually and one to watch in each particular race. Not everyone does the form probably but I do it and it can take a long time to do if you do it properly, when you tip a 10/1 winner or better it’s a nice but!
What process did you have to go through to become a race caller at the track? Practicing, practicing, practicing, I must’ve called 10,000 to 20,000 races minimum in practice from about 10 to 15 and early 16 or so whatever that be off the tv, or on course in Australia to Ireland or anywhere, I just wanted to be good at it and hopefully it pays off. There is no other qualification for race calling other than practicing really and hoping to get a crack really, I left School completing year 10 which is allowed down here. It’s just so much practice really, but now it’s second nature.
As you’re into your trotting and harness racing, is there anything they can do to make it bigger in Europe? A: Not really, you’ve got to remember that trotting is bigger than thoroughbreds in mainland Europe! Whilst the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe is clearly the world’s greatest race in my opinion, the Prix d’Amerique, the world’s greatest trotting race, is much bigger locally. Trotting rules in France and the Elitloppet in Sweden is one of the biggest “sporting” events of the year. Trotting in your country has come a long way in the last 5 years and is only going to get better
What has been your favourite race to call to date so far? Over the P.A./TV I’ve called overall five feature races, a Trotting race in Wales, the Elmore Pacing Cup twice, Elmore Trotters Cup and Birchip Cup, little towns in Victoria. The Birchip Cup was only a couple of weeks ago and was a crowd of around 1000 to 1500, I’d like to think I summed the race up well. When it comes to races I’ve just done for myself, Winx in last year’s Cox Plate, I was lucky enough to be on-course for it and called it from the turn out of the home straight, not ideal position! But had a monitor in front of me so majority of the race was obviously off that, again I’d like to think I got the moment right.
What other hobbies / interests do you have? I enjoy most sports but racing clearly on top. If I was to say what is more my passion out of racing and race calling I would say the latter. I enjoy my British detective shows like A Touch of Frost and Midsomer Murders very much indeed.
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ALTIOR
THOUGHT’S ON THE STAR BY PETE INGRAM The Mighty Altor, arguably the best horse in training at the moment and I think fair to say, the undisputed king of Seven Barrows,
the Mullins yard next season. Footpad is casting a long shadow over the Irish sea with his performances in the novice division, non-more so than that in the Arkle.
I’ve never been a great believer in times on the clock in the National Hunt scene for various reasons but the clock boys were positively salivating that day and you have to say his running style and the way he finishes off his races, he will at the very least pose a serious threat Given the treasure trove of jewels in Nicky Henderson's to Altior. He is yet to come up against a horse that can power stable is some accolade. His season is one which has been dominated by the weather in truth, the horrendous deep ground which has pervaded over the season has kept Altior of the track more than he should have been. Just Three runs this season compared to the six the season before. However, much we feel denied by that, the three runs he did put up were, in their own unique way, mesmerising. We had to wait until February and the well worn traditional path to the Champion Chase in the form of the Game Spirit to see him strut his stuff at Newbury. What makes Altior stand out against the Champion Chasers of recent years is this remarkable ability not on only to travel well and strongly through every type of pace thrown at him but to also be able to quicken instantaneously when his Jockey asked him to go. Its breath-taking to watch on the TV but for those of us lucky enough to be on course when he works his magic, you get an even greater appreciation of this remarkable equine Athlete. Such was the case when Politologue dared to Challenge him. The turn of foot in less than ideal ground was breath-taking and one sensed at that point that everyone else was running for second place at the festival. The Victory in the Queen Mother was achieved in much the same manor, looking briefly in trouble three out coming down the hill, he was gathered in by his jockey and once asked to go and settle the race it was again over in a matter of strides as that wonderful turn of foot revealed itself again and he powered up the hill to glory in a manner which befits a true champion.
away from a field on a track with an uphill finish like Altior can and a clash at next year’s festival could produce a build up to a race to equal Kauto v Denman all those years ago. A race for the ages is a definite possibility. My second thought is interesting. Nobody will understand or know Altior better than his immediate connections and they may just look at Footpad as a more than serious contender. If that’s the case, and Mick Fitzgerald alluded to this on ITV yesterday morning, Altior’s running style leaves him open to success at various trips and Mick even suggested that the 3 miles round Kempton at Christmas in the king George wouldn’t beyond him. Although Might Bite will have something to say on that front and his presence in the stable may force connections to stay at two miles, but there is no doubt Altior has the scope to step up in trip to at least two and a half miles.
Nicky Henderson will know what’s best for the horse and the initial moves and entries will give us a great insight into his thinking next season. Had footpad not been looming Altior could undoubtedly go on to emulate the greats of the division and win three on We can spend a lot of time eulogising over this seasons bounce and he may well do so but as with all these victories and quite rightly, to all seasoned National Hunt things at the end of a season, only time will tell. Fans, these races and the manner in which they were Personally, and speaking as a fan and lover of the sport won, will live long in the memory. But what about the I hope and pray that they both stick to the two-mile future? what's in store for Altior next season?. route and we see a race for the ages. I have two thoughts on this subject. Sandown on Saturday was the icing on the cake, shrewdly placed here by the master trainer rather than taking in Aintree, the result was never in doubt as yet again when asked, he powered away from his field.
The first is that he will have a serious challenge from
RICHARD JOHNSON EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE CHAMPION JOCKEY? Desire, dedication, determination, concentration and the will to win, that is undoubtedly something that 40-year-old Richard Johnston has in abundance. Johnston is the perfect ambassador of horse racing with his hardworking ethics and his talent in the saddle, both of which have seen him winning victorious in the Cheltenham Gold Cup recently, adding to his already astonishing portfolio. We really had the pleasure of an exclusive Interview with Richard Johnston, as the hectic national hunt season comes to a close. How did you get into racing?
What is it like to be champion jockey?
My family always had horses on the farm and my dad It is always so hard to become champion jockey as there rode as an amateur, so that certainly swayed me into the are so many great jockeys out there, I’m very lucky to have so much good support to help me try to keep hold direction of being a jockey. of the title for as long as possible. If you went a jockey, what would you have been? I’d say something down the farming route, would have been next on the list.
What jockey do you look up to?
What was it like winning the Gold cup?
Outside racing, how do relax?
It would have to be Noel Fehily, as he is a brilliant jockey and he always has a very cool head in the saddle.
I honestly can’t describe it just the best feeling that I ever Spending as much time with my family is my top priority, as whenever I am not racing I try to spend as much time experienced, it made all the hard work that I put in as I possible can with them. worthwhile. Through the big race, how were you feeling?
How do you deal with internet trolling?
I was happy throughout the in the race, as he was not being taken on, so my mount Native River, was always in his comfort zone and fortunately he stayed in the strongest for the victory.
It’s never nice if someone says something bad about you, but when you’re doing a sport in public, unfortunately it happens. You have to just try your best and ignore them.
Give us a horse to keep an eye out for? Village Vic is a horse I personally think plenty of.
Follow Ricard on twitter @dickyjohnson77
The Personalised Jockey Company
www.thepersonalisedjockeycompany.co.uk Email info@alisonthorperacing.co.uk
Tell us about yourself. I was born in mid wales. My father was a policeman and mother a teacher. I have always had a passion for horses from an early age. My first pony was one on loan from a trekking centre. I spent my childhood competing, show jumping and eventing. Along came my three lovely children and I took a break from horses.
How did the business start? I then owned point to pointers, had horses in training and one day decided to take out my own licence to train. I trained for twelve years from my home in Carmarthen, South Wales. During that period, I enjoyed much success as a trainer. Some of the horses include Maidstone Monument, Do it on Dani, Cleymor House,Il Penseroso, Rushneey River, Treaty Flyer, Dishdasha and Nortonthorpe Lad. I retired in 2012 but my interest in racing continued and to this day the racing post is visited daily. In my spare time I took a course in ceramics and thoroughly enjoyed working with clay. The majority of my pieces were horses and racing. It was a trip to the 21 Club in New York that gave me the idea of creating the modern-day lawn jockey. And here I am today turning them out like a Terracotta Army.
What price are your lawn jockeys ? There is only one standard jockey, but another will be produced in the next few weeks. The price is £495, and delivery can be discussed depending where you live. What makes your business, different to other’s? Whilst owning and training horses I frequently searched for personalised racing gifts. These would have looked great in my yard.
What is your ultimate aim? My aim is to produce a variety of personalised racing figures. Commissions are always considered.
Most memorable moment in racing? My most memorable racing memory was not too long after I started training and Do it on Dani won a decent race in Market Rasen that was televised on Channel 4. Bearing in mind I had never been interviewed before when Tomo placed the microphone in front of me I went weak! After that I took an awful lot of ‘stick’ about my welsh accent and I remained camera shy for quite some time! What is your favourite horse? My favourite horse of all time has to be Maidstone Monument my father’s horse. Bought for 500gns he went on to win 11 races and 19 placings. He loved the good to firm ground hence he spent a lot of time in the swimming pool!
How do you relax? Time to unwind is modelling with clay at the kitchen table. Sometimes I get carried away.
What are your favourite silks? My favourite silks are those of my fathers who sadly passed away last year from prostate cancer. He was a true gentleman and was great company on many a journey to the races.
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LUKE McATEER THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK Tell us about yourself? I'm 17 from Donegal I'm an apprentice to Jim Bolger in Coolcullen Co Carlow
How did you get into racing? I got into racing through my grandad, who trained a few, just starts pony racing and stuff like that then Martin Harley advised me to go to Mr Bolger for an apprenticeship.
How is your career going? So far I've got 2 winners from 19 rides it's going ok so far and I'm enjoying it
Aims for the season? Id like to get 5/6 winners this season and get a lot more rides
What jockey do you look up to? I look up to James Doyle and he's does very well with his weight and he's very stylish as well
Most memorable victory so far? My first winner in Fairyhouse on Pirolo last June
Horse to follow this season? My horse to follow this season would be an unraced Galileo filly called Park Bloom who holds a Guineas entry
How do you relax outside racing? I enjoy going to the cinema with Gav and willy in the evenings .
Follow Luke on twitter @Lukemcateer123
GERAINT WILLIAMS RISING STAR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Tell us about yourself? I’m Geraint Williams, from Ebbw Vale in South Wales. Eldest of 5 and supermarket worker (fruit and veg boy) 30 going on 31 and father of a 8 month old baby boy called Harri.
How did you get interested in horse racing? My whole family are huge horse racing fans and all my earliest Saturday morning memories involve my Grandad coming over to talk about the horses with my dad. Any family gathering now involves a good few hours of talking horses over a few pints, not so good for the WAGs mind.
Most memorable bet? The one bet I’ll never forgot is nowhere near my biggest one but it was when my dad was out working one Saturday and me and my brother (we was about 12 and 10 at the time and had never bet on our own before) decided to do the doubles and trebles bet we put on every week (picked one horse each between the 3 of us then put pound wins, 3 x 20 pence doubles and a 40 pence treble) my mother took the bet down for us and by the time my dad got home we were one horse off a few hundred pound. The last horse got beaten in a photo after heaps of trouble throughout the race but we still Trolls, how do you deal with them? talk about that today. I haven’t had many trolls to be fair, but I usually just Most unlucky accumulator? laugh along with them and take the mick out of myself Had a few of these but one that stands out (other than too. They usually leave it be then and normally end up the story mentioned above) is more stupidity on my part following me. The block button would be brought out if than unlucky. I needed a horse in a big flat handicap for anything to stupid started going down, but I haven’t had a few grand and was watching the race with the family. to block anyone yet The horse jumped off in front and led pillar to post as I Aims for the future? screamed and shouted over the whole thing. The shock came when the name and odds came up on the screen I’m more a day by day kind of guy but of course it would as it turned out to be my horses stable mate with my bet be brilliant to find something better for my son and little family to live more comfortably with (my misses Lucy trailing behind in midfield. and her daughter Lola completing said family) I’ve been What is your method of studying form? working in retail for a long time now and maybe I’m a Racing post fan and pay for the basic package something fresh is due. If that was in horse racing, then it which allows trainer comments and pedigree and so on would be a dream come true, but I haven’t had any luck to be viewed. I find the speed ratings on there to be when contacting a few local yards for jobs helping out to decent and I like to see what kind of speed ratings they date (doesn’t help I can’t ride I suppose) got for similar races (class/ground/distance/course) also how do you relax outside horse racing? keep a keen eye on trainer stats and past winners of the races. Its sometimes worth watching a few horses on my I like to play and record music and have played in bands for years. Have a sound cloud page now where I write shortlist’s last races on bet365 too and play my own stuff and put everything on there. How do you cope when the results don't go Nothing beats sitting around playing with the kids your way? however, I could do that non-stop. I tend to be ok unless another horse I really fancied ends up winning lol. I tried to combat that with a double bet that allowed me to back a few horses per race, but the pay outs were nowhere near as good and I found my first Follow Geraint Williams on twitter choices were mostly beating the ones I was putting in to - @Raceolly be safe anyway.
HAYLEY O’CONNOR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Tell us about yourself? I am Hayley O’Connor. I am a social creature that loves horses, so I feel very lucky to have a career in the thoroughbred industry that involves meeting people. I live between Dublin and London with my husband Fergal, who I am yet to convince to buy a racehorse. My role in Goffs is International Client Relations. How did you get into horse racing?
“My Dad used to let me, dodge school to go to the Orby sale in Goffs and his obsession for thoroughbreds just rubbed off”.
I don’t know if there is a single answer to that. Since I was a child, horses have been a constant source of happiness for me, and my love of racing was probably initiated by my dad, who was a vet. Channel 4 Racing blared in the living room every Saturday, he’d let me dodge school to go to the Orby sale in Goffs and his obsession for thoroughbreds just rubbed off. I remember distinctly the first horse that captured my full attention, Celtic Swing winning the Racing Post Trophy by a distance. After I received my degree in Animal Science at UCD I spent a summer in Kentucky and that trip made my mind up that I wanted to work in the industry if I could. You have owned a few horses, tell us about them?
The good, the bad and the ugly! Right now, I have a lovely New Bay colt foal out of my mare Maybe Grace, who I bought in 2007. She gave me great memories and was my first runner on the track. I bought her at the Goffs Million Sale and she won plenty, including black type. She’s bred 2 winners from 3 runners in the US and South Africa and has a nice Gutaifan yearling filly now owned by Sophie Buckley that I sold in the November sale. She’ll be covered by Oasis Dream any day. For fun I have a leg in an Alhebayeb yearling colt with my friends that we purchased at Goffs November foal sale. He was an impulse buy but I believe he’s doing very well so I’ll continue to dream. Joanna Morgan has him and I was really lucky with her when she trained, both horses, Genesi and Six Silver Lane were winners for me, so hopefully it continues to be a fortuitous connection. For me though, the best buzz is having a horse in training. I had nothing the past year, and I miss it so I’ll be putting together a small partnership soon. I’ve been successful with fillies, so I’ll aim to get another to send to Jessica Harrington. Lola Beaux was my highest rated runner that I owned, along with my friend Carmel Acheson. I saw her in Jessica’s just after the BBA had purchased her at the Orby sale and really liked her. She was very special, a winner for us and was second in a Group race at the Curragh to subsequent Oaks winner Qualify. We sold her to America after that. If I could get something along similar lines I’d be ecstatic.
HAYLEY O’CONNOR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW You've worked in the betting industry for a long time trained hard, and the entire process, not just the race was the biggest buzz ever. In a way, it set a bar that’s how did you find it? It was brilliant and I learned an awful lot. Punters come in been really hard, impossible actually to match in terms of all shapes and sizes and I’d get great banter with them exhilaration. Even riding work up the Old Vic between a and met lots of very inspirational sports people over my few horses is a great sensation. I rode in a schooling 8 years there. I was in my early twenties when I started bumper at Punchestown before riding in Cheltenham, and actually, that was way harder because it was a lot at Ladbrokes and so getting a press pass and meeting more crowded, with sods of mud flying in your face and people I’d watched on TV was a big novelty at the beginning. There’s also a thrill being on the radio or the there was plenty of bumping going on, but I still loved it. If I win the Euro millions I’ll buy 5 or 6 horses that are TV at the start. There’s a difficult side to it, bookie bashing can get quite extreme and being an associated lovely to ride, but fast and go back riding them out in Jessie’s. face of a betting brand had obvious challenges. I think there needs to be a shift in racing’s perception of the betting industry and vice versa, otherwise some
What does this year have in store for you? Adventure, hopefully and lots of new experiences, people and places. My promotional visits for Goffs so far have gone very well and I have lots more planned I went to New York a few weeks ago and had a super trip meeting owners and some trainers over there. Dubai for the World Cup was my next destination, where I met more owners and trainers, I thought it was sensational. The great thing about race horses is that no matter where or who you are in world, everyone has their own story of what made them love the game, and their own theories on what it takes to be successful. Give us a horse to follow?
I had lunch with Maurice Regan, owner of Newtown Anner Stud back in February in New York and I asked him about an unraced filly of his in training with Dermot Weld that had an Oaks entry called Jaega. It’s hard to get a cracks could set in that could be mutually damaging. The straight answer from a Kerryman, but the twinkle in his betting industry contributes a lot to horse racing, and eye said it all, so I wasn’t surprised when she sluiced up betting on horses is often an entry point to horse at Leopardstown on Monday. She could be the real deal ownership, Uncle Mo’s racing owner, Mike Repole, for and I am also excited to see what last year’s Orby instance. Most people that go racing get a thrill on sale-topper by Frankel does for Aidan O’Brien in the having a wager, and it is an intrinsic part of the racing Zayat family colours. experience. Advice for anyone thinking of following your line of I know the horse racing product is one of plunging work? importance for betting companies, which I believe will I think for anyone starting out in any career, I’d say the not only be bad for their business, but a worrying prospect for racing, and the long term value for pictures things that scare you the most are nearly always the most worthwhile, so don’t stay in your comfort zone or rights etc. The relationship needs to be symbiotic. you won’t evolve. My own observation on success for Online trolling how do you deal with it? the long term, is that integrity is essential, and one thing I generally try to give my thoughts and energy to the I noticed immediately at Goffs is that that is at the heart things and people I care about in life so a stranger’s of their ethos. opinion or animosity towards me doesn’t feature at all. Away from racing, how do you unwind. You rode in a few charity races, what did you think of In Dublin I live by the coast so a walk by the sea is the that? best way to clear the head. I like painting and the arts so When I am old and grey, they are what I’ll be replaying in I find a few hours wandering around a gallery is time well my mind to make me happy. My first one in Naas was a spent. disaster, but I was grateful for it because it prepared me well for Cheltenham. I took that very seriously and
FAUHGEEN THE RETURN OF THE MACHINE
"That victory was something else. It just shows the horse has the heart and I don't know where he got that from. Maybe we'll stay three miles or maybe we'll go chasing with him - I don't know. "It's going to be fun deciding what we are going to do." Insisted elated winning trainer Willie Mullins.
"If he had finished down the field today we probably would have said it was time to retire him, but it didn't
The now 10-year-old Faugheen, had been badly out of Mullins added: "David said he loved it, absolutely loved it. form of late but bounced back to his former with a foot perfect front running ride by jockey David Mullins, to win He probably got a lot of things his own way there today and it may not happen again in the future, but he has a in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown. fair engine. The former Champion Hurdle hero, owned by the Rich Ricci, unquestionably relished the massive step up in trip, He went on: "He worked the other morning, and this was going to be a last-chance saloon. Ruby (Walsh) was with by destroying the opposition in manner that suggested me on the gallops and we looked at each other and said there will be more to come. that's him gone. Faugheen was allowed an easy lead straight from the "You always take a chance and run, and just hope on the start and soon had the field well stretched out. day maybe good weather and a nice bit of grass underJockey David Mullins was able to dictate his own pace neath will bring him back to life. and never looked like running out of petrol, bowling a long like an odds-on shot and extending his advantage to He added: "He always runs well here. I think the only time he was beaten here was when he let Nichols Canput more daylight between himself and the rest up the yon have a lead one year. He was just fed up going that straight, as he led home a Mullins one-two-three, with two-mile gallop, and when he got things his own way Penhill second and Shaneshill third. here he started to enjoy it.
FOOTPAD
FOOT-PERFECT PREFORMANCE AT PUNCHESTOWN
Most bookmakers cut the Willie Mullin trained Footpad to 12/1 from 16s for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, after an unproblematic performance by in the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown. The talented six-year-old, missed the Aintree recently as he was said to be out of sort, but no ill-effects were seen as he put in a extraordinary round of jumping to he maintain his unbeaten record over fences
Mullins stated: "He didn't run at Aintree as I had to give him a little break. I didn't dream that he would improve that much. That was some performance, and probably better than Cheltenham, I thought.
"It felt today like he'd improved a lot. There are plenty of options for him.
Daryl Jacob rode the Willie Mullins-trained gelding with great confidence and had the Grade One at his mercy after shrugging his old foe Petit Mouchoir aside. Castlegrace Paddy tried his best to to go with the top novice, but Footpad, the 2/5 favourite, left him in chasing in vein. It was left to Dan Skelton's 25/1 shot Optimus Prime to pick up the pieces and take second place but never any sort of threat to the well back favourite.
"A lot will depend on what connections want to do, but he could easily go out in trip. We have Douvan, Min, Great Field and Un De Sceaux so it's a nice division we have at home. I don't think he'll go to France. "I thought he jumped much bigger than I've ever seen him before. I was wondering if he was losing too much ground in the air, but he just seemed to be so well in himself and he was spring-heeled over everything. "Daryl said it took him a while to settle and then when he spat it (bridle) out he was push-button stuff from there.
OLLY MURPHY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Exclusive with rising star in the training ranks Olly Murphy How have you got on this season? It's been a magic start, way better than I could ever of imagine. It's now important that I better this year next season, I've a big team behind me and hopefully this is only the start of what's to come. How many horses are you keeping in training for the summer? I'm going to keep 25ish in for the summer. I think it's important to get numbers on the board being a young trainer, there is also a lot of racing through the summer months now. What the biggest downfall of being a new trainer? There's no one to hide behind when things go wrong. You’re the name above the door. What people forget is training horses is a business as well. There is an awful lot of people to pay at the end of the week. It's a result driven business.
Your old boss Gordon Elliott was very unlucky not being champion trainer, what is your views on it? Gordon had the most unbelievable year, yes, it's gutting to be pipped again and my heart bled for him, but what he's achieving and doing isn't normal. The mans a genius, his best years are ahead of him. I really look up to him. Give us a horse to follow through the summer? A horse called compatriot will win a few novice hurdles. Wishful dreaming will go novice chasing. Emma's benefit will win her races as well. I've a nice little team for the summer.
Follow Olly on twitter @O_J_murphy91
www.equinemedirecord.com
BRIAN TOOMEY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Toomey has already achieved the impossible, Toomey was given a 3% chance of survival after he suffered severe head injuries in a fall at Perth He was riding Solway Dandy, trained by Lisa Harrison, in a hurdle race when he horrifically fell three fences from home. He was placed in an induced coma for over two weeks, after which he underwent surgery to reduce the swelling and pressure on his brain. So, you could say he has had to overcome more hurdles than most, and in finishing the modules necessary to become a licensed trainer recently, is unquestionable another massive milestone for this brave young man, who is not for giving up under any circumstances. Toomey is now equipped to write the next chapter of his racing life as this man is lucky to be alive and is taking nothing for granted “Against all odds”.
Tell us about yourself? In my career I’d exactly 800 rides, with over 80 winners, What’s the plan for the future from your rode at all the biggest tracks in the UK for some top retirement from the saddle? trainers and won on Dirar & Cole harden. I’ve completed a few courses my trainer’s courses, staff I Lived on a farm was lucky enough my father bought management, yard management & media training me a pony, it was trial & error, I learned the hard way course, worked on William hill Radio, sold various fall after fall, distant relations of mine were the horses also I was assistant trainer to Dr R Newland for a McNamara’s I learned so much off then they inspired period of time. me to become a jockey. “Though It kills me, I miss my career as a jockey so much it was all I ever wanted, I’ve finally started to accept what happened & move on from it now”. Tell us about your horse
racing accident? I spent 157 nights in hospital, lost consciousness for 6 seconds, was in an induced coma, had half my skull removed with a titanium plate fitted after wards, got granted my licence back 704 days after injury.
What does your days consist of doing?
Who was your main support, that you couldn’t have did without?
I unwind by travelling to old friend’s homes to see them, going for a nice meal, listening to music & just chilling.
My days consist of getting my life back on track, riding out, I’m in the process of Trying to broaden my horizons at the moment, to get me closer to my goal of being a trainer with a bit of luck.
How do you unwind from racing?
Family & friends helped me, my goal wanted to get back What’s next on the agenda? being a jockey kept me determined & gave me the will To keep crossing bridges until I can begin training keep networking & hopefully gain plenty of support along the to live again. way.
LEIGH ROCHE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Tell us about yourself? I am 26 from Tuam in Co. Galway. I don’t have any racing background, so I don’t know how I really got into it, but I always wanted to be a jockey.
How did you get involved in the sport? I started riding ponies when I was young for family friends who had horses and went from there to getting a summer job when I was 12 riding out for local trainer David Ryan who’s a brother of Tom Ryan and father of Rossa who an apprentice with Richard Hannon is currently. I went to RACE then when I was 15 and was sent out to Mr Weld and I’m there since.
Most memorable victory? A few come to mind. I had my first group winner on big break for the boss. Winning on Hit the bid for Darren Bunyan. I have a soft spot for him. Any winners I get in Galway are great because it’s my local track. I have had some nice winners for Moyglare stud. I enjoy riding any winner but especially for Eva Marie Hefner. She is a lovely woman and a great supporter of mine. I’m in a great position to be riding for some great owners who support me.
Ambition for the future?
Do you still feel pressure, when riding fancied horses? There is always some degree of pressure in every race but if things go to plan throughout the race, the best horse usually wins.
Online trolling, what are your views on this issue that jockeys and trainers must deal with frequently? I think it’s a disgrace that you must deal with online trolls. It’s becoming more and more common amongst jockeys and it’s about time there is something done about it. There’s so much emphasis on improving mental health in racing and online trolling doesn’t help.
Give us a few horses to follow this season? I think Hit the bid for Darren Bunyan has great prospects for the season ahead and he has some nice maidens to go to war with. The boss has some lovely horses. Contingent, Flavius and Yulong gold fairy are just a few to mention. Michael O’Callaghan has some nice horses too.
Anyone you would like to give a mention to that helps you out?
I must give a special mention to Wayne Middleton, who My Ambition is to keep improving and ride as many windoes the strength and conditioning classes in RACE. ners as I can, I’ve had great help and advice in every asJohn Butler the Physio. Gillian O’Loughlin the dietitian pect of life from Pat Smullen since I joined Mr Welds and Dr McGoldrick. Who contribute so much to helping and hopefully someday I will be as good as him. us in every aspect of our careers.
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CHARLIE POSTE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Tell us about yourself? I’m 34 alongside riding my girlfriend and I have a yard where we have pointers, pre trainers and breakers big part of the business is trying to produce four year - olds to win like the Irish model. I also do some media work for ATR and BBC radio 5live. I’m a huge sport fan and would play sport every night if I could!
How did you get into racing? Went to a riding school with a mate when I was 10 for a few lessons as we’d had horses at home when I was very young, I was hooked from then onwards
Most memorable victory Welsh National on Le Beau Ba
Did you feel pressure much whenever you were a jockey? Think there is more a nervous anticipation about wanting to do your job well. It’s the sort of pressure any sportsman wants and certainly beats the pressure of trying to get an average one round!
Give us a horse to follow? All is good should make up into a nice novice chaser. Myroundorurs should win a handicap chase or two on some good ground
How do you relax away from racing As I said earlier, I love to play sport so a game of football or squash normally does the trick
www.BetEast.co.uk
- The Release of RaceStatsApp including @Puntersform is only weeks away - . Tell us about yourself? My name is Mike O’Neil I have owned my own software companies since I was 23, I have been developing / designing software for the best part of 40 years now. Chances are if you sold or bought a house in the last 18 years your conveyancer used software I designed and developed.
How did you happen to start your business?
What makes your business different to others? We are the only company to ever look at the Punters Form and explore its credibility in finding the winner. Once we were convinced that it worked it was a case of finding a way to display the data in such a way that it makes it easy to interpret, that turned out to be the hardest part, we developed 100’s of ways to display results, we launched RaceStatsApp 1 over two years ago when we thought we had it, but it wasn’t long before we discovered we had missed what turned out to be critical stage and that was the ability for the user to get a match to track and day, in RaceStatsApp2 we do it for them. Obviously if everyone one in racing starts using RaceStatsApp2 it won’t be long before it doesn’t work but I am 100% confident the vast majority will never accept that the form of the punter is more reliable than the form of the horse / jockey / trainer. RaceStatsApp2 is not just for the days racing but for finding systems also, it gives the user the ability to run unlimited combinations and instantly gives the income / losses it would produce over the defined period for every one of the last ten years.
Ten years ago I started a website called HereAfterMe.com unfortunately it did not take off and I then decided it was time to do something that did not require customers, employees, partners, taxman or banks and the only thing I could come up with was punting on horses but I wasn’t going to jump straight in, I figured with my abilities with computers and mathematics I could create a program that would guarantee my success at it. Not a single friend believed it was possible which is probably why I didn’t quit after the first 5 years, when someone says it cannot be done all I hear is no one else could do it. In that time we have spent in excess of 60,000 hours (includes my time and the time of the best programmer I ever employed in my commercial life) writing 1,000’s of algorithms, designing and ditching 100’s of calculators. Truth is if I had known it would take this long and cost what it has I never would What the future has in store for your concept? of started but never let it be said that I am a quitter We have a very exciting addition for our next release whatever the cost. but for now it must remain hush hush.
Tell us all about the app and the idea behind it? I have been collecting Horse Racing Data since 2008, Initially everything to do with racing including Betfair Betting data, Trainers/Jockeys/Horses even as far as travelling distances and the weather to mention just a couple.
What was your most memorable bet? The last one I won. I forget the losers instantly.
Most memorable racing memory?
A very good friend Steve Tilley organized a tent (beer tent) in the infield at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland New Zealand on boxing day for their big meeting. Friends flew in from everywhere in the world for what After 5 years what I discovered is there are NO turned out to be one of the best days ever with great constants in any data outside the punter. The Punter and Bookie are the only ones that go out every day with friends I had not seen in years. Never to be forgotten. just one goal and that is to win. Punters have been What is your all-time favourite horse? around longer than every horse/trainer/jockey and Never had one always looked at racing as a numbers compete in every race so the data they create is easier game, when I was very young and before there were to see patterns in than anything else you can find. All computers in every house and massive database it was you need is a race that has been held on the same day whatever carried the number 9 or 5. on the same track and is the same race type with approximately the same number of runners for at least 5 Away from racing, how do you unwind? years, they don’t happen every race, but they happened I have been doing this for so long now I need a break many times a day and on certain days they do happen away and that was is why I originally released for every race. RaceStatsApp when I realized it wasn’t right and I had The vast majority of Punters bet based on the research to get my head back in the game and keep going it was not easy, but now I am confident everyone who uses they have done or copied from those who have taken RaceStatsApp2 which includes PuntersForm will make the time to do it. ONLY punters make a favourite. A punter every year (+/- 1% or 2%) gets the favourite right money from it and not mind paying less than £1.00 a day for it, I can finally after 10 years start thinking of 33% of the time, NOTHING is more consistent. what I can do to unwind and it will be sailing somewhere warm.