David Casey has added his voice to a growing concern over the pace of British races, claiming the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January was proof of the difference between the tactics of British and Irish jockeys.
The comments come after trainer Harry Fry claimed too much early pace in British races is part of the reason their horses are struggling to compete with the Irish, views backed up by former weighing room colleagues Mick Fitzgerald and Aidan Coleman.
"English jockeys go too fast, way too early"
Speaking at a BoyleSports preview night for the Cheltenham Festival in County Tyrone, Casey said: “Harry Fry came out with a statement last week and Aidan Coleman agreed, saying that English jockeys go too fast and that’s why English horses don’t win at Cheltenham. They got ridiculed for it, but they absolutely have a point.
“I’m not sure that’s the real reason, but they do go way too fast, way too early.
“A proven point to me was in the Cleeve Hurdle with Noble Yeats. He wants 12 miles! But they all kicked on and seven furlongs out they are all off the bridle. There’s no way in the world if the race was run in Ireland that Noble Yeats would have won it. The second last is five furlongs out but Dashel Drasher was flat to the boards in front. It was absolutely crazy.”
Galopin Des Champs Update
Casey also provided an update on Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs, who is currently an even money shot with BoyleSports to win the Festival’s blue riband event for the second year in succession.
“He has been there and done it and beaten most of them. He was very good at Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival, so I don’t see where the chink is. He’s in great order and if he turns up that way, he’s the one they all have to beat.” Meanwhile, BoyleSports’ Official Stable Partner John ‘Shark’ Hanlon is hoping to cause an upset with his pint-sized star Hewick, following further in the betting at 14/1.
David Casey was speaking at a BoyleSports Cheltenham Preview Night in aid of SVP at the Bardic Theatre in Donaghmore, County Tyrone. To make a donation, visit > https://www.svp.ie/fundraiser/cheltenham-preview-night-2024/
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