The Philip Byrnes Wexford fall looked awful… but some of us must bite our tongues until investigation is complete

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

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PUNTERS were quite rightly stunned and social media went into meltdown after a shock unseat on a horse who drifted like a barge at Wexford on Wednesday.
Philip Byrnes flopped off Redwood Queen – trained by the jockey's old man Charles - in the opening 2m1f claiming hurdle.
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Redwood Queen looked to have 1-3 market leader Beacon Edge beaten as they approached the last
Credit: Racing TV
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Redwood Queen landed on all fours having seemingly jumped the hurdle well - only for jockey Philip Byrnes to be unseated
Credit: Racing TV
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An investigation has been launched into the incident, which came at the final flight after the horse had drifted markedly in the betting
Credit: Racing TV
Although on itself merely an extreme example of desperate riding, what angered many about this was that Redwood Queen had drifted in the betting from 7-2 to 13-2.
She clearly had the race in the bag when the jockey disappeared out the 'side door'.
Byrnes runners, more than most other stables, appear to do best when the money is down.
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To an outsider, the County Limerick handler runs what the majority would call a 'gambling outfit', for all that racing fans would have no proof of any financial transactions.
So when a Byrnes runner drifts like a barge, is clear at the last and then the jockey falls off, naturally many will cry foul play.
Only time will tell if that was the case - as the IHRB launch their full investigation.
But the chances are the case will eventually be dropped.
Only money trails could really prove guilt, and with so much punting action now on the Black Market, if anyone was trying to do something untoward they would have to be very thick indeed to leave any trace.
I did ask one top class jumps rider what they thought of the fall, and their response was interesting.
"Terrible bit of riding really," they said.
"The horse came out of his hands and he was unbalanced but who knows whether that was enough to fall off?"
They added: "Personally I don't think he's that good a stunt rider. I think if they wanted to throw themselves off it would have looked more obvious.
"It's really hard to throw yourself off a horse. I just don't think he's that good."
Social media is always fascinating on these occasions. People like me – journalists and presenters on TV – tend to come in for a barrage of abuse.
The general gist is that we 'don't tell it as it is'.
As well as that, we should 'have an opinion' and we won't talk out against the 'racing family'.
What those on social media are actually saying is that if we don't agree with what they suggest we are on the so-called 'gravy train'.
In this case, what those on social media wanted me to say was a jockey had deliberately fallen off a horse who had taken a walk in the betting because connections did not want it to win.
They would also like me to add the whole game is corrupt.
To say the above is fine for most, although technically there would always be a chance of action being taken against them if the authorities found there was no case to answer.
But if a TV presenter was to say such things – or someone in writing – they would be in court or before lawyers before you could count to ten.
I know this as a fact.
In my early days of broadcasting I was laid off for a month for two instances which I stand by to today, but which could not be proven.
Did one of those mouthing off on social media offer to help pay my bills because I had publicly stood up for the punters? No they did not.
Being a keyboard warrior is, naturally, a very different world to broadcasting or writing in a newspaper.
Social media has given the people an opening to express themselves like they have never had before.
But just because the rules of the land appear to matter little online, everyone should remember that for broadcasters and journalists it's a different world.
The Wexford incident looked awful. But was it deliberate? I have absolutely no idea.
And at this stage none of you reading this have any concrete proof either. Such is life.
It's the calm before the Derby and Royal Ascot this weekend, but one race I'm excited to watch is Saturday's Group 3 Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock and live on ITV.
Old favourites Audience and Kinross are in the line-up, but it's Alyanaabi who interests me.
He was once fancied for last year's 2000 Guineas, and eventually finished fifth behind Notable Speech.
He carried on at about a mile for Owen Burrows, but his stamina has always been open to question and he returned over course and distance when scoring on May 10.
I was impressed then and everything looks right here for another bold run with a strong pace assured. Come on, Alyanaabi!
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