John McCririck today defended his criticism of Brian O'Connell's ride on Dunguib in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday. He was speaking to Pat Kenny on his Today show on RTE Radio One.
The Channel 4 pundit said: "Let's get a bit of realism. Brian O'Connell has ridden Dunguib to win nine races. He is a young man whose career is ahead of him. This horse is a difficult horse, Dunguib. He jumps sloppily and can't be got in a rhythm by Brian O'Connell. You would not have a relative newcomer in the very top-flight and expect them to do their best.
"Remember when he won the bumper, it was a flat race here last year, he was in front three furlongs out. How did he ride it in the first race, the Supreme Novices, wide on the outside, far back, came through late. You need a man like Ruby Walsh, A P McCoy, even bring back John Francome to teach the horse, this horse is still learning and it's unfair on Dunguib that Brian O'Connell should be kept on it, loyalty by the stable and the owners, that's fine, but it's against the interests of the horse and of course the punters.
"It's the boys sticking up for the boys, isn't it, they stick up for their own, absolutely right and full credit to Davy Russell for saying that. But I'm asking you, if you owned Dunguib would you go along with a relatively inexperienced young rider on the way up or go and get one of the top pilots?
"This is a particularly difficult horse to ride. He doesn't get into his stride easily, he doesn't flow, he doesn't have the rhythm unless the jockey can help him. He's got away with it in the past winning tuppenny ha'penny races in Ireland with two and three runners and that kind of thing but when he came across a proper hurdle race in top class company the rider was found wanting not the horse and I'm asking anyone who complains about what I'm saying, it's what the punters are saying, in fairness when they backed Dunguib they knew this young lad was on top so it is their own fault for doing it but in the end if they owned the horse who would they employ, Ruby Walsh or Brian O'Connell?"
Ted Walsh had commented on the same station last night: "I wouldn't give McCririck the time of day. I think he is a big oaf. McCririck wouldn't be safe on a bicycle let alone on a horse. I wouldn't give him any credence. A few times I used to take him on but John Francome said to me one time don't be taking him on, he is not worth taking on. It's like Ronan O'Gara responding to Kevin Myers. I mean Kevin Myers probably wouldn't get a ball in Elverys and he is commenting on a fella like Ronan O'Gara.
"You shouldn't even comment on those fellas. He (McCririck) goes on with that auld baloney and bullshit all the time. He does that, he is always onto that. He used to rile me one time but do you know something if he passed out alongside me in the chair I don't know if I'd go over to pick him up. Francome knew I was going to jump on him and he put his hand on my knee and he said ignore it. McCririck is a show man."
In response McCririck said: "Absolutely brilliant. Ted Walsh is the king of Cheltenham after what his daughter did yesterday and of course Ruby with 26 winners at the Festival, the record of all time. They are the royal family, it's not the Queen that has Barbers Shop running here today, it is the Walsh clan, how can you argue with Ted, he is the voice of Ireland a fantastic man. He rode four Festival winners, over 600 winners, trained winners at Cheltenham. Ted Walsh is that.
"On the other hand Ted Walsh knows in his heart that I'm right but he cannot come out and say it and condemn one of his fellow Irish riders. He can't do it. So for Irish consumption he has got to go along and say that I'm wrong. All the jockeys, the professionals know it. You know I'm right, do you have an inexperienced new professional on a horse that is a difficult ride or do you get a top pro? It's a no-brainer.
"Those from the weighing-room and the exs from the weighing-room, just because I haven't ridden too many winners at Cheltenham think I know nothing.
"Brian O'Connell's career is on the make, it's on the up, he'll be a good young rider, in time, but not now. This Dunguib is particularly difficult, he is a slow learner. He needs tuition, he needs education and only a top-flight rider can give it to him.
"So maybe in a few years time Brian O'Connell could well be champion jockey in Ireland. Take nothing away from a twenty-three-year-old, he is not capable of giving the very best possible ride to the horse, same as Sam Waley-Cohen on Long Run yesterday. He is an amateur and they should go and get a proper jockey stuck on him as well so I'm not just picking on Brian O'Connell. But Dunguib needs teaching and he was not given a proper ride by a novice."
