Jumping hegemony in Ireland will eventually run its course

The jumping scene in Ireland bears a striking similarity with the Flat canvas in Britain 30 years ago. A handful of affluent patrons exert a dominant influence over Ireland’s best jump races, just as the huge influx of Middle-Eastern owners brushed allcomers aside in late-1980s Britain.

Then, as now, a hegemony established by weight of numbers and seemingly limitless resources gave rise to some serious problems. Trainers outside the Arab embrace found it tough to compete. Their slings and arrows seemed impotent against the bullet-charged onslaught of their competitors, which led them to paint an apocalyptic portrait of how Flat racing in Britain would look in ten years’ time.

The apocalypse never happened. There were repercussions, to be sure. Some racing-related businesses contracted, some trainers went to the wall. Yet while the 'rules of engagement' had changed beyond recognition, other trainers survived before going on to thrive.