Irish media putting the boot in on Cheltenham is outrageous after-timing

After-timing has always been rife in racing. Epatante was sticking out like a sore thumb in the Champion Hurdle. You didn't fancy Clan Des Obeaux, did you? Sure, he cannot stand Cheltenham. Shishkin was some price at 6-1. You want your head examined if you backed Benie Des Dieux at 4-6 against a mare as talented as Honeysuckle. And Envoi Allen was the bullet-proof banker, not Paisley Park or Tiger Roll you silly lot.

Oh yes, it is always easy after the event. There is an old story about a very popular member of the Irish press room who was watching a race at Galway one day and spent the whole race saying: "Come on, Paddy," but as Paddy was passed on the long uphill climb to the line that was altered ever so slightly to: "Come on, Paul". Of course, Paul went on to win the race.

He would regularly get forecasts and tricasts up too, although rarely mentioned the winner or runner-up when you were chatting about the race beforehand.