RICHARD BIRCH

Weblog: A light hearted look at my punting life

Gold Cup debate proves showtime is so essential

AS John McCririck so rightly says, John Francome was "the greatest jockey" during my youth.  After Francome retired, Peter Scudamore assumed the role of 'top man' over jumps as far as I was concerned.

I never quite bought into Richard Dunwoody - perhaps it was because he once left this young journalist standing in the pouring rain at Chepstow for 20 minutes after the last race waiting for quotes, and then sped off with just a "delighted" comment! - and then along came AP.

AP McCoy was everything an each-way punter could want. An insatiable desire to win as many races as possible; no premature easing down to miss out on third place; an instinctive knack of committing for home at exactly the right time out in the country.

Some of those midweek rides round the Fontwell, Exeter, and Stratford gaffs defy belief. How many races has McCoy won by sheer force; by sheer will-power; by a sheer refusal to admit defeat?

As a punter, I've never criticised McCoy in my life - whereas I admit to have berated Ruby Walsh, king among many present-day backers, on several occasions for holding one up too far off the pace - and am not going to start now.

However, while attending a friend's 50th birthday party last Saturday, it was very interesting to canvass views on the clash everyone has been waiting for -Kauto Star versus Denman in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The friend, a former employee of Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler and the Tote, had invited some 125 people - many of whom still work in the racing and betting industries - and plenty of lively discussions on various turf matters were heard throughout the evening.

Despite my loyalty to AP, I must admit I sparked a debate on whether McCoy was the ideal partner for Denman in the Gold Cup. Sounds silly, doesn't it? The best jockey in living memory - perhaps of all-time - being doubted for his ability to get the best out of one of the most illustrious chasers for many a year.

However, I raised the issue and, to my astonishment, about 80 per cent of people - which included employees of the BBC, Attheraces and Victor Chandler - agreed that AP and Denman were far from suited to each other.

McCoy is very much the guv'nor as far as any partnership between man and beast is concerned. All his best moments have come when he has needed to show brute power and persuasion. He loves to drive a horse into a fence; needs to make up their mind for them; in a nutshell, he needs to show who's boss.
Some horses don't appreciate that imposition of authority - Best Mate was a classic example - and Denman has always been a horse who likes to be the boss; to be in charge, and to do things in his own splendid way.

Potentially it's going to be a fascinating battle between AP and Denman - and that must surely favour Kauto Star and Ruby, won't it?

Only five weeks to Cheltenham, and everyone is talking about it. If only greyhound racing could have it's own 'match made in heaven' to look forward to. The game would be in a far healthier state if it had.

How about Westmead Hawk versus Rapid Ranger, anyone? Both running at their peak, and meeting over 475 metres at Wimbledon. Who would win?

Anyway,it's high time I won some money. After a two-month absence, my 'betting diary' blog will return next week.

Somebody was urging me to start writing it again at that party over the weekend. He said: "I used to enjoy reading that. It would be boring if you won all the time." Sorry, Vic, but I sincerely hope you will be bored senseless over the next few months!