RACING commentators across the water were caught on the hop by the Derby result. What’s this, a jockey we’ve never heard of wins the world’s greatest flat race?

"If he’s Irish and his name begins with P, he must be called Paddy", seemed to be the track taken by most of the TV racing presenters in the aftermath of Wings Of Eagles winning with Padraig Beggy on board.

Maybe with all the endless pre-race articles on Diore Lia, due to be ridden by Paddy Pilley, Paddy was the first name that came to mind.

In fairness, every jockey in the UK has the option of having their full name printed on the racecard, a directive brought in a few years ago. It is not in effect here. Beggy and Fran Berry were the only jockeys who did not have their full names in the Press Association racecard, just their initials. It should still have been part of the preparations to get the full name of every rider, given all the attention given to the eventual non-runner.

POWER OF ADVERTISING

IT’s good to see racing get more and more air time across the media, especially through the summer months when there are so many sports calling for coverage.

Lisa O’Neill was a panellist on the Saturday Sport on RTE Radio 1 sports show last Saturday. She proved an entertaining guest. The recording of her family cheering her home from the pub in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham sounds even better without the pictures.

The conversation moved from encouraging advice given by family and friends to the social media comments that jockeys have to endure, including accusations of falling off deliberately.

Reference was made to the pre-Cheltenham adverts featuring Ruby Walsh. “Yes, it was for Ladbrokes or BoyleSports or one of those..?” said Lisa. Perhaps not the desired effect of the advertising campaign!

Saeed suffers

Godolphin strife

SAEED bin Suroor’s disquiet at how Godolphin was operating came to a head this week and, after criticism in print, John Ferguson moved aside. Saeed had a runner in a maiden at Kempton on Wednesday evening. As a three-year-old son of Dubawi only making its debut in June, it could be said to be a timely demonstration of Suroor’s complaints over the horses he had been given. The colt was named Don’t Give Up, even more appropriate.

Doubling up

WITH the confirmation this week that Epsom Oaks winner Enable is heading to the Curragh and Wings Of Eagles likely to line up in the Irish Derby, we could have the unusual occurrence of each British classic winner following up in Ireland.

Churchill and Winter have already done the Guineas double.

The two Guineas, the Derbys and Oaks, could each be won by the same horse. Wings Of Eagles could even emerge as a St Leger favourite. Nine classics, five winners.