When John Francome took Jenny Pitman to task - and got away with it

There was an old video clip doing the rounds on Twitter over Christmas featuring John Francome being interviewed by Brough Scott after the 1984 King George VI Chase.

Francome had just won the race on the great Burrough Hill Lad and, in his legendary drawl, said about the horse's trainer Jenny Pitman: "She complained I came too soon in the Hennessy and didn't make enough use of him today." After a pause, cutting in just as Scott was about to ask another question, he added: "I think I'll have her ride him at Cheltenham in March."

Apart from being very funny, the clip highlights that the relationship between Francome and Pitman – who certainly wasn't one to pull a punch – wasn't one of deference from the jockey to the trainer. Of course, Francome is renowned for his comic turn of phrase, enabling him to carve a long and successful career as a racing broadcaster after retiring from the saddle. But I wonder if, in this day and age, he would have been as comfortable making such a retort about a trainer. I suspect he wouldn't be.