Want to see a really smelly ride US just now Paco Lopez

Yes a very iffy race in which I backed a horse called "Smooth Rico" believe it or not.

Nice name, noticed that

Do they do anything about these kind of rides over in US - imagine that happening with someone like Mulrennen over here, sat talking to the other rider while cruising into a lead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShgOyzaItC4&t=9m33s

Not as bad as it sounded. Looked to me the jockey was doing his best to see where the jolly was so he could maybe obstruct its path. Jock on fav most likely shouted over 'nice try' as he cruised by and won more than a shade cozy. Had he timed it better he may have gotten away with it, but he made his steer too early and left too much time for the the jolly to be angled off the rail. Granted, had he paid no mind to where the jolly was and simply kept his head down all the way in the straight in a strong driving finish then MAYBE he lasts home in front, but there's little doubt his beast was running near empty at the death.

so he could maybe obstruct its path

he would be dq'd for that and he actually did obstruct the second when going wide on the bend.

didn't look bent to me, looked like he wanted to win cleverly but the horse did not respond once he started whipping it !

He must have looked around several times, not just once - very, very suss IMO.

One look around or two maybe but that's all he seemed intent on rather than simply riding out in a straight line as jocks would do in that position 99% of the time.

His horse already comfortably ran with a clear first run, and only the finishing straight left. Looked to me like it had found more than he wanted at that point, so...this resulted as a finishing ride.

little doubt his beast was running near empty at the death.

I'd totally disagree - a little one paced possibly, but he was putting more effort early in the straight to looking backwards rather than any effort to keep it moving with strong effort - could have just maintained it's lead IMO.

foxy top nose.

Since when do they regularly do that in races over there? I don't see much of the 'win clever' type of riding, they mostly just hammer them down the home straight, especially if they are in a comfy lead to start with!

He was trying not to resort to the whip, once he did there was nowt left, only imo of course.

I've seen this one run over same distance before and it ran right through the line - no problem with stamina.

There was a problem with making it slow once in the straight, and then attempt to quicken again late on.

it was a 4 horse race and tactics and pace matter a lot, even great jockeys get it wrong now and then, anyone remember when Bob Back won at 33/1 when 2 great jockeys were playing cat and mouse in a 4 horse race

The race was widely regarded as a match between the classic winners Pebbles and Commanche Run with Bob Back starting a 33/1 outsider. The only other runner was Costly Lesson, who started at 66/1. Bruce Raymond restrained the colt at the back of the field as Commanche Run set the pace before moving up on the outside in the straight. He took the lead approaching the final furlong and recorded an upset victory, beating Pebbles and Commanche Run by one and a half lengths and a short head. Excuses were given for the beaten horses: Pebbles was reported to be in season whilst Commanche Run's connections claimed that he was unsuited by the muddling pace.

Fair enough an occasional historical example foxy - but you must admit in modern times they mostly just hammer them down the home run in instead?

Head down, drive it home is the US way these days - unless of course.....

Correct stu, you simply can't compare US Racing with ours and as you say none of the easing down stuff etc over there.

I was not comparing the two, I was pointing out that even great jockeys get it wrong now and again.

The problem is 'getting it wrong' is the classic diversion excuse for bnt rides foxy.

I'm sure Mulrennen and his recent famous ride was just him 'getting it wrong'?

At least Mulrennan had the excuse of not getting a clear run - this guy had no such excuse at all. Sparrow knows US racing - they pummel the horse home over there, unless they 'don't want to'.

You may have been involved in the race? I wasn't and trust what I see. If that was a UK replay the third would not have gone in my notebook for next time, that's for sure.

As sparrow says saddo - you can't compare US and UK riding, they do it different over there, or at least usually!

Was the winner the fav stu? Looked different class at the end.

Sorry, it says in  your  op

I thought the winner was by far the best, Lopez sat off the fast pace, made that big run on the final bend and just wasn't strong enough, imo he gave it every chance, he could have hit it another 10 times but imo it wouldn't have won.

Strong enough the horse not the jockey

Yep saddo, the winner the fave.

IMO if you want to see a ride of a jock looking around going 'we're all on the favourite here' then I think this one would fit the bill IMO.

oh well, it's all about opinions so people will always differ - they did for the Mulrennen ride too.

100%, everyone sees things differently, who is right or wrong, we probably will never know

Jockeyship is far too subjective to be given more than seconds of discussion , the multitude of hours spent discussing on here would be better spent reviewing personal betting strategies in most cases.

I think Mulrennan is the only Jockey I have ever accused of owt dodgy on here stu. There might be one other but I can't remember.

Dermot Brown (nap)

Agree Hayden,



I will say though, that jockeys must be over the moon that hanging was stopped years ago

I'm the same saddo, purely on the volume of questionable rides

Yes foxy, that was a good un. Did punters cry foul on the day, or unlucky?

punters were not happy on the day and even less so when he admitted it in his book

It wasn't a dodgy ride, he gave the horse every chance but it wasn't good enough. The winner won with plenty in hand. If he had hard ridden the horse all the way to the line after taking the lead he would have been beaten even further.

Paco Lopez does that sort of thing all the time. He is a cocky rider who often tries to win as cleverly as he can. Keep your eye on him in future and you will see.

Well we'd agree on one thing Jack - I wouldn't be backing him in any of his races in future, whichever the truth of this one.

He's like Brian Hughes, he often looks like he has more left in the tank than he actually has.