Derek OConnor

It's the amateur equivalent of Ruby (Derek) v Geraghty (Codd). Depends what you want in a rider.

Very few independent spectators will argue Jamie is a better rider than Derek. However, there's no-one stronger than Jamie in a finish (though his penchant for breaking the whip ruled is part of this).

I backed Island Master as I couldn't see why he wasn't shorter. He's not a very good jumper though and it was no surprise he shortened him into the last. He'd have been caught by the winner regardless of what he did anyway.

Can't agree with that comparison.

Derek OConnor has a dire record in bumpers,I accept its only part of the picture but all the other amateurs I mentioned could ride them no problem.

He rides the way he's told to. When he's told to make the running he does it. Doesn't help when 80% of your rides are for John Kiely who likes his dropped out.

As a pure rider Derek is the best amateur there is and I'd argue that point with anyone. Jamie is too forceful at times but that's a matter of taste I suppose. He'd lose most professionals never mind amateurs.

Wildman would you put Willie Rooney in your list

You only have to look at his mush to know he's not the brightest chap in the world, he's like most of the pointing fraternity, as thick as a barn door. The people that go to points haven't an iota, every year it's the same. They wouldn't know what century they are in, they hype up knobb horses every year. It was the dud belong to Pat Hughes, then it was cloudy rock, last night that yoke belong to winters. Derek is their hero, but he's ordinary at best, and that's being generous. No wonder the bookies are laughing their bolloxx off at the fools that go to them Sunday after Sunday. Betting to 250% a race and they don't know the difference. The reason Derek doesn't get many bumper rides outside of Kiely is simply because people inside the rails don't rate him , and with good reason.

Unusual for Borneo to be criticising a jockey but imo DOC deserves it.
20 winners from 230 bumper rides and 5 course chase winners from 95 rides is a poor return for such a high profile jockey.

TTK rightly mitigates to some extent for his hold up rides for John Kiely. These are clearly instructions and I am led to believe that the reason they're held up is because it's more visually impressive for a sale. Kiely has them ready for their life on their debuts and some of his owners include the successful pinhooker Ger Burke (bought the only Gorge Washington foal). Borneo might verify though that Kiely and his brother also rode with exaggerated waiting tactics in the seventies?

I believe that DOC was a factor in a recent fall out with long-term owners. He just seems to be a terrible judge of pace in bumpers if you look at Pride of the Braid (pocket talk) at Punchestown a recent example,you just can't give that much of a head start in good ground bumpers and expect different results.

Borneo I had to give up on you on the other thread when you started going on about telepathic robots predicting fallers.

And yet the owners keep putting him up on both sides of the sea why?

396    34    74    €236,386    8.59%    £-114.64

A moron puts up an arguent saying how good he is and then posts a strike rate of 8.59% and  a 114.64 deficit staking record.

Hopefully DOC gets the fractions right on this mare,anyone recognise the Galway hurdle winning colours?

Nothing under him,winner impressive and DBH will win races over further.