Jamie Spencer, not my favourite jockey (he seems to get my selections beat, whether or not he's riding them) but credit to him today on Prince Alzain, turning over the 5/2 on favourite. Went out into the lead, stepped it up and went wide on final bend (taking the favourite with him) and then went away to win cosily.
I posted up another horse in that race, mine didn't win but i thought 5/2 on was a ridiculous price for that fav. That fav having never run on pollytrack, stepped up in grade and with a 6lb penalty. Even if it was a top horse I would have stayed well clear at that price. Form very rarely seems to carry over from turf to aw and visa versa.
He's just had a mare in the 4.40 at Wolverhampton. The horse won but Jesus Christ how he blocked off two or three times in a 5 horse race i will never know. I don't usually complain about him but bloody hell. That was bad race riding.
I agree Bustino, Frank is a great horseman and Jockey on his day but out thinks himself on occasion. There are times when even as an armchair jockey you are undoubtedly correct as the whole world can see him in the wrong position or waiting just that half furlong too long before moving and he proves you right but seems to be the only person who did no see it or thought something else was happening. Now Jim Crowley is riding as good as any except Hughsie at present and will hardley ever leave you thinking he judged it wrong, win or not. A good jockey needs keep it simple as possible and only has to not mess up really to allow the horse to attain its highest possible position. Danny Tudhope up north also doing exactly this and winning consistently.
