The most overrated jockey on the flat is definitely Jamie the 'dumb waiter' Spencer. He insists on riding just about every race from way off the pace, but he rarely times his run to perfection. If there is trouble in a race to be found, the 'dumb waiter' will find it. I will never understand why owners and trainers employ him, as he never seems to learn from his mistakes.....and there have been lots of them. The most underrated jockey on the flat is Liam Jones, who is a very good jockey and he should be getting a lot more rides. The most overrated NH jockey is Richard Johnson. I still can't believe he has ridden more than 2000 winners, as everything he rides seems to make at least one very bad mistake. Denis O'Regan is, without a doubt, the most incompetent NH jockey of all time. The most underrated NH jockey is Wayne Hutchinson.
Liam Keniry might not be too famous but IMHO he is one of the worst pro flat Jockeys. His hand movements are all wrong. He pushes the horses into the ground instead of thrusting them forward.
The most underrated flat jockey is Paul Hanagan, he rarely gets rides in G1s, despite being by far the best jockey riding at present! The most overrated is Frankie Dettori, if he rides 3 winners in a day, at any big meeting, his mug is all over the news, were as if Ryan Moore or Richard Hughes do the same, it gets far less coverage! The most underrated jump jockey is Denis O'Regan the guy is pure class in the saddle, he just needs to be given a chance with one of the top yards! The most overrated jump jockey of all time is Ruby Walsh, he has this holier than thou reputation, and no one dare critisise him! But I'm not afraid to speak my mind, and he's just been fortunate to be stable jockey for Nicholls, during a golden era, and I rate atleast 5 jockeys, as his superior
For me the most over-rated has to be Jamie Moore, does well at plumpton that is about it. I have even heard be described as a Poor mans AP Mcoy! :-D. King I dont ofter disagree with you, being a massive follower of yours, but Im afraid this time I will. Ruby imo is one of the best , you dont win the amount he does with out being that I good, I know he gets the horses but you can see he does make the difference sometimes he knows how to ride some horses that others even mcoy him self doesnt know how to ride. He doesnt give up and delivers when it counts! I have to agree with you about Johnson tho! Very over rated and hasnt really won big enough! The most underatted would have to be either Noel Fehily or Sam Thomas. One jockey I think will do well this next season or if not this one the very next will be Ryan Mahon
Woolcombe....Well we will have to agree to disagree on Walsh, for me he's in the top 5, and that's about it! I'd rate Geraghty, Mcoy, and Johnson above him, and Fehily as his equal
We will indeed! lol. One jockey im not very keen is Jason Maguire, I dont know what it is about him. But I just think he is over rated yes he won the national, there are just some alot better
We all have our opinions and here we can freely give them without resorting to "606" wars. I'm not one for knocking anyone for being overrated but I do like to recognise those who haven't been given the credit they deserve. I'm not a great studier of all the jockeys but I do notice very good and very bad rides. I have noticed some really terrible riders but have never bothered to identify them. How anyone would ask some of these so-called jockeys to ride their horses I don't know; I wouldn't let them hack out on any of mine that's for sure. On a more positive note I was very taken by the way Dougie Costello rode Monet's Garden to victory. Although Barry Geraghty might be one of the top jockeys, in this particular race DC made all the running on MG, met all his fences spot on and when challenged by BG on Poquelin the fight to the finish was very revealing showing what a good rider DC is. Whilst BG was bouncing up and down on his mount's back, DC gave MG a much more comfortable time and held off the challenger in a thrilling finish. The contrasting styles were very evident. I can't compare the two jockeys on one race obviously but it did show that a relatively unnoticed jockey, if a good horseman, can fight it out with the best. So, as I have never heard anyone mention DC, I'll name him as one of the most underrated. And as for Noel Fehily, he looks a class act.
On the flat Paul Hanagan still doesn't seem to get much respect - champion last season and leading again this season so he always seems to be underrated. Overrated then everyone's favourites Richard Hills & Jamie Spencer always come in for the criticism - but Richard Hughes has a tendency to drop some complete brahma's too! He's good but I wouldn't rate him top class and he's not a plus in my book when looking a who's running. Whether Dettori is class or not I'd not get into but the reason his mug is all over the place is because he's a one man publicity machine. Always comes across as loving his job and feeds down to the fans. Saw him at York last year - never stopped smiing and would chit chat & banter to all who wanted Ryan Moore is basically a miserable sod so why push him at a time when racing is trying to grow and attract people? The Oaks last season "So hows it feel to win the Oaks then, Ryan?" [Shrug of the shoulders]"Well its not the Derby!" If the winner of it aint bothered then why should anyone else? Over the jumps then Graham Lee I think is overrated - a little like Jamie Spencer some races I've seen him in he just gives the horses too much to do. Underrated I'd possibly say Jason Maguire as each time I've backed a horse he's on its been in with a chance & he always seems to have it postioned just right. Walsh is class - Shergar don't rate him because back on 606 many put him on par or ahead of his main v/s AP!
