Incredible, are my eyes decieving me?

not quite up to scratch!

You would think, having spent all her life around racehorses and in the company of a master trainer and the prodigious Joseph that she would be at least able to ride a racehorse. Is she the "Snaffi Dancer" of the O'Brien family?

Just a smokescreen, silvergreaser.  They know you are on to them

Goes to show how untouchable they've become or believe they are ozy?, that even the judgement of a riding assessor was deemed as an insult and was worthy of an appeal?.
A professional riding assessors opinion counts for nothing in their eyes.

You're actually a mental case. By your way of thinking then every appeal made by anyone implies that they are questioning the integrity and capabilities of the relevant body. The appeal system is an automatic right granted to anyone and has been used many times over the years to overturn incorrect decisions made by members of the various ruling bodies.

I don't know much about her other than she has recently won an individual eventing medal for Ireland at the European Junior championships which would suggest to me that she can't be too far off the minimum standard for race riding considering some of the people that hold licences. If the Turf Club feel otherwise then that is their decision but if AOB is happy enough for her to get a licence in the first place then of course he is going to appeal. He would know more about riding than you and most of the people on here would tied together and certainly wouldn't be planning to put her on the racecourse if she hadn't shown an aptitude for it.

I have a funny feeling they will pull Camelot out of the leger now that Ana can't ride it.

Duck if the Turf Club had ruled in Favour of O'Brien it would in fact be undermining R.A.C.E, Irish racings riding academy.

Ana O’Brien had not passed the riding assessment at RACE and as such in accordance with the criteria set out for the licensing of apprentice jockeys in Regulation 1 of the Rules of Racing and INHS Rules, was not eligible to be licensed.

Now I'm pretty sure the RACE riding test is pretty stringent, all jockeys been assessed on the various demands and nuances of race riding.
People sit a driving test who think they're great drivers but fail because they didn't do the basics correctly. I'm sure thats the reason why Ana was failed, the tester has a job to do.
She's hardly the first jockey to fail a R.A.C.E riding test now is she?.

If somebody fails a driving test do they appeal the decision or do they resit the test?, resit the test of course, which makes me wonder why there is even an option for an appeal when the test is carried out under a strict criteria and by very experienced riding instructors?.

O'Briens appeal was churlish and by doing so he was actually asking questions of the instructors integrity, I suspect the real reason was it was an embarrassment to him?.

If she can't ride then she is the only one of the family that can't Even her Mum was a brilliant Amateur. I am no fan of the Coolmore Mafia but I would be with APOB on this one. If he says she can ride then the chances are she can

I would suspect she can ride and rather well. As they say the apple does not fall from the tree.

I wonder has the Mullins,Carberrys,Harrigton's,Walsh's of the world went to R.A.C.E. Be interesting to see how many actually attended race or just passed the assessment. I be surprised if Paddy Mullins attended Race since he was in CLongowes and then went straight onto College.

Its a test, she sat it, she failed whats the problem?, I'm sure she's then given a set time period to correct where she went wrong and then apply to resit the test, how hard is that to grasp?.

A certain father needs to swallow his pride!.

Silver there are people who have passed the RACE assessment that don't know the first thing about the "nuances of race riding". You only have to go to a p2p to see some amateurs that haven't a bit of riding in them yet passed the assessment.

I wouldn't be surprised if she was a very competent rider and failed the assessment on account of a technicality. That they included in their judgement she be re-assessed at the nearest opportunity would suggest to me that she isn't far off passing the test and was unlucky this time round.

I would be with Silver here actually for once.

Just re sit it. We all fail something.

I assume it will take a certain time for the re-sit stopping her from riding at all this season and maybe that's the reason for the appeal. They obviously want her to get a chance this season

She failed the test,get over it.  Obviously she is not competent enough to ride racehorses. Her old man may be able to train racehorses but he can't train jockeys. To try and suggest she can ride very well is a bit idiotic, but thats what you tend to get from the apologists on here.

Well we all have differing points of view Gotchee I suppose. I think that suggesting AOB is incompetent because Joseph doesn't ride all the winners is idiotic for example.

She has shown herself to be a very competent eventer and the standard set by RACE isn't too exalted so I would be surprised if she was incapable of meeting it. I'm pretty sure that she's going for an apprentice license as opposed to the amateur one the older sister has so considering all that and using a bit of conjecture it is fairly surprising she didn't pass it. I'm sure this was equally surprising her old man hence the appeal which I don't think he'd have made just for the sake of it.

Chances are she'll pass it shortly and ye can all make up yere minds when she steps onto the racecourse.

Classic thread. It appears that;

Nobody knows why she failed it.
Nobody knows how quickly it can be retaken.
Nobody knows if an appeal is common practice.

All of which are fairly pertinent before drawing any conclusions.

Allduck, I wish you would stop misquoting me. Your love affair with team Ballydoyle knows no bounds. You know nothing about her ability to ride racehorses yet you are trying to suggest that the R.A.C.E. examiner Paul Keating got it wrong, not only that you are trying to suggest that decision made at the appeal was wrong. Are you for real?

The Gotchee do you have any evidence she can't ride well. You just saying Aidan can't train jockeys but his son is about to be champion jockey and was a class apart as a event horseman before he got onto the track. His daughter is what i say barely even 17, there is no doubt she will be riding soon even if she has failed her initial race test.

Its unbelievable to most on here that you and Silver have the audacity to question the parenting of the O Brien's. What do you kids do?? are they all Human Rights lawyers that work for the UN? do you even have children??. I suggest you thread a very careful line when you talking about children.

Where did I misquote you? You said in black and white that the fact Joseph didn't ride two of his classic winners and that often perceived outsiders from the stable triumph is a sign of incompetence of AOB. Am I wrong or did you say something different?

I took issue with Silver's assertion that making use of the appeals process, as is his right the same as anyone else, was a signal of AOB's lack of respect for the RACE assessors. He had a differing point of view from Mr. Keating and went further as he obviously felt that she was at the standard required to obtain a license and wouldn't have sent her up there to make a show of herself if he didn't think she would pass. It's obviously conjecture on my part in saying that she should have passed but knowing some people that have gotten past the assessment any fool can do it. The upshot of it all is that she will have to go through it again whenever theres another assessment  and following her debut her competence as a jockey can be assessed by all the great authorities on here.

As an aside I have no greater admiration for Coolmore than I do for Jim Bolger or Willie Mullins or any of the other racing conglomerates. It's the often ill-conceived sniping that goes on here against them that annoys me. FFS theres people on here that haven't spoken a word to AOB or his family and wouldn't dream of doing it yet have the audacity to question the parenting skills employed by them. Saying that they are too controlling and other such nonsense. The same people are probably the proud parents of some of the thousands of useless toerag drain on society teenagers dressed in knacker attire knocking around in Irish towns and cities these days. The freedom of being allowed roam the streets without any sense of authority at all being imposed on them from an early age has really set them on the road to success.

Saying that they are too controlling and other such nonsense. The same people are probably the proud parents of some of the thousands of useless toerag drain on society teenagers dressed in knacker attire knocking around in Irish towns and cities these days. The freedom of being allowed roam the streets without any sense of authority at all being imposed on them from an early age has really set them on the road to success.

Couldn't agree more. These are the Chapagne Socialist brigade. The disintergration of society as we know it is due to terrible parents of which these is thousands in this country. The scum that roam the streets every night of the week in any city or town looking for fights and doing drugs. No where now can you smack you child to teach them obedience now we get the Human Rights brigade out. I really looking forward to hearing about Silvers and The Gotchee's kids, from there judgement of the the O Brien's is fair to say they would be the chapagne socialist type. Letting there kids decide when to go to bed, when to go to school, what to eat and basically do what ever they want. I applaud the O Brien's and all the other stables like the Mullins and Bolgers for taking young chaps and belting it into them the proper way to behave and respect people.

It seems this thread has veered badly off topic.

Question is this the first incident ever of a person appealing against a R.A.C.E instructors decision?.

Ozymandius has hot the nail when he asks;

Nobody knows why she failed it.
Nobody knows how quickly it can be retaken.
Nobody knows if an appeal is common practice.

All of which are fairly pertinent before drawing any conclusions.

hit the nail even.

Firstly ruby, I have never questioned or made any derogatory remarks about the way he is rearing his children. Where did I question the parenting of his kids? Bring up the thread.If you can I will never post on here again. I have never made any remarks about the way he is bringing up his children so for your sake I would withdraw that remark or apologise.

Question is this the first incident ever of a person appealing against a R.A.C.E instructors decision?.

Couldn't tell you Silver but if there was we would have hardly heard about it. The only reason you posted this was because it concerned AOB.

The Gotchee I seem to judge you and Silver as one. If you haven't made any remarks about the rearing of the children I do withdraw my remarks in relation to you.

However i stand by them 100% in relation to Silver and no surprise he wants to re-veer off topic.

Its quite obvious why you would appeal, like you appeal anything that goes the way that you didn't want it. I suspect they want to get her into the saddle asap. I am not sure why they would want this but maybe she may have similar weight issues like Joseph as I do think she is quite tall about 5'10 or so for a teenager and one would suspect they have little interest in putting her over the Jumps.

Things involving the Coolmore mob do often catch my eye duck.

The Turf Club will sometimes publish the whole minutes of the appeal, in this case they just published the basic facts, leaving everyone in the dark as to why the appeal was lodged, why the appeal was dismissed apart form the obvious that she failed the RACE test, and why there is even an option at all for an appeal?.

Was it a request from plaintiff to not publish all the facts in this case?.

Ruby I'll make no apology for asking the guy to give his children a break, they're trust into the public eye and people will make comments and judgements, be it Fifi Trixibelle, Zowie Bowie, Willie and Harry etc etc.
Seeing as you asked I'm in my mid 40's have 3 children and a 3yo grand child.

Apology accepted ruby, Rather than get personal it is better to discuss the topic thats up for debate.

Silver then I would have thought you would have more common sense as a parent not to criticise a parent who kids are very well mannered and behave impeccably. Even if they are trusted into the limelight a bit much they still have been well brought up and I would have thought you would at least respect that as a fellow father.

Gotchee no problem issuing an apology if I have accused you in the wrong. Furthermore the topic in hand was brought to the attention by Silver making accusations about who does AOB think he can manipulate the system.

The appeals process is there for one simply reason to appeal and he was turned down like hundreds of other. I may also add that Allduck is exactly right in regard of Race. Have you seem some of the people who ride in Ireland?? some of them would never get a license from the BHA. You highlight RACE as the beacon of all that is right but the facts are all the best jockeys in this country from the Carberry's Mullins Walsh's Gerathys etc all learned there craft from there familys or local yards not at race. For Instance if someone told Jim Bolger that one of his lads didn't get the certificate from race despite him/her working at the yard for years and being more than capable, what would his reaction be???. You be confident it would be just not just an appeal

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I'm presuming the test Ana underwent was similar if not the same as above?.

The Turf Club will sometimes publish the whole minutes of the appeal, in this case they just published the basic facts, leaving everyone in the dark as to why the appeal was lodged, why the appeal was dismissed apart form the obvious that she failed the RACE test, and why there is even an option at all for an appeal?.

Was it a request from plaintiff to not publish all the facts in this case?.

Of course there would be an option for an appeal the same as in any other aspect of the game. There is hardly a decision made by any body in the country inside or outside sport that doesn't have an appeals process. What is an applicant supposed to do if they feel they haven't been treated fairly or have some kind of agrievment with the system? If they have a legitimate case then retaking the test shouldn't be the only option available to them.

Ruby I'll make no apology for asking the guy to give his children a break, they're trust into the public eye and people will make comments and judgements, be it Fifi Trixibelle, Zowie Bowie, Willie and Harry etc etc.

Silver theres a big difference between asking for children being given a break and roaring on forum that their father is a control freak and the children are being scared into silence. Theres also a big difference between these children and, say, William and Harry. "Thrust into the limelight" . . . FFS if you showed a hundred random Irish people a picture of the O' Brien children 99 of them wouldn't know who they are. I've never seen them on the front of a red top engaging in some kind of scandalous behaviour. I think you have desperate notions of this family in your head that bares no truth in reality.

Well duck then we're both only surmising, racing is a minority sport you either love it or hate it, but anyone who is interested in racing would be well aware of the O'Brien siblings.

I was just making a general point when you sit a driving test or say a leaving certificate examination if you fail you either take it on the chin or look to re-sit it, nobody appeals the results of their leaving cert results or driving test.

Yes anyone in racing would know them the same as anyone in racing would have known Patrick Mullins from a young age following Willie around. That hasn't stopped him from turning out into a fine person has it? In both cases it's a long way removed from the level of exposure actual celebrity children are subjected to and which you referenced.

nobody appeals the results of their leaving cert results

I assume that is some odd attempt at humour or something thats flown over my head.

Well put it this way its rear, mostly parents unwilling to swallow their pride, most will just accept it and knuckle down and re-sit the examination.

Lads, there is clearly something more to this than meets the eye. This girl was good enough to win a medal at European level in eventing. That is a serious level of riding. You only have to look at the Punchestown charity race every year, in which all of those riders have had to pass this same test, to see that the standard of test at RACE is not very high at all. My guess would be that the girl did not attend the assessment and APO'B hoped to get the license through anyway based on her very impressive achievements in the world of eventing.

About 8% apply for appeals as far as I know. Not a huge number on it's own but means about ten thousand students and a quarter of appeals result in upgrades most years. The appeals process is a very important resource for many people as an upgrade can mean switching to a more preferable course or even the difference between getting a course offer at all. While undoubtedly it's a wasteful venture for many who get the marks their efforts deserve to say it's mostly a case of parents unwilling to swallow their pride is a bit nescient for me anyway.

This girl was good enough to win a medal at European level in eventing

Exactly Redbait. Lol...RACE when you look at is starting to look like a very suspect. Imagine giving not giving a license to an European medalist eventer and yet the Kildare Mob get them.

I'm led to believe that all these RACE tests are videod so they can show the student or licence applicant where they went wrong, they do say that the camera never lies.

Was video eveidence produced at the appeal?, nobody knows such is the the sparcity of the Turf Clubs report.

very interesting stuff,indeed!can anyone explain to me how i can make denaro out of it?or are ye lot just a bunch of mug punters that like to hear themselves talk and bore the tits of each other

Met her mum in Legs of Lesson street years ago, if the girl says she can ride she can ride lads !

Its not the end of the world. Even Jenson Button failed his driving test and that didnt stop him becomming world champion.

I agree with Kingrat we are going mad in the head the lot of us.

Good night folks.