Jockey pays the price for pulling up two from home
In the minutes after a horse wins a race the praise generally falls on the trainer,the jockey and the horse itself. But when a horse doesn’t do as well as expected then its normally the man on top that gets the blame.
Just last week Lord Windermere,the defending Cheltenham Gold Cup Champion of 2014, tanked spectacularly in his title defence. The horse was at the back of an impressive field throughout and was pulled up two from home. The performance,on softer ground,was in stark contrast to his thrilling victory in the highlight of the festival in 2014.
Many felt the conditions didn’t suit him but even at that punters were perplexed how a horse could perform so poorly. And it seems that trainer Jim Culloty,a man who won three gold Cup;s in a row on best mate,wasn;t happy either and has told the Corkman his servicesd are no longer required
In today’s Irish Daily Star the reasons given by the former jockey have been outlned by Russell for the
After the Gold Cup Jim told me he didn’t want me riding his horses.
He wasn’t happy with the ride I gave the horse [Lord Windermere] and he said he wanted a change. It’s very disappointing to lose the ride on Lord Windermere. I’ll never forget last year’s Gold Cup win on the horse which was one of the highlights of my career.”
Russell is regarded as one of the best jockeys on the circuit and will now lose his book of 25 rides from Jim Culloty’s Cork based stable.
The news makes it an especially bad day for the Youghal native who was riding today at Gowran Park.
The Corkman took a major fall on Feenakilmeedy in the beginners chase in Kilkenny, and was treated on the course for a number of minutes.
Reports this evening suggest he has suffered a broken arm and leg in the fall.
https://twitter.com/pauriclodge/status/579329064051347457
H/T to Racing Post
