WILLIAM JARVIS will retire at the end of the season best known as the handler of Grand Lodge and Lady Bowthorpe, who both won at Group 1 level.
Many of you will be delighted to know that William is responsible for probably the biggest b******ing – and there have been a few – in my career.
The handler went absolutely bonkers one day when I was agent for Darryll Holland and we were chasing a jockeys’ championship which would eventually be won by Kieren Fallon.
I’d booked Holland for an outsider of Jarvis’s in a maiden which, to be quite honest, had very little to no chance of winning.
Some 20 minutes before declaration time the likely second favourite was without a rider and connections were keen for Holland to take the mount.
I switched ‘Dazzler’ and then all hell broke out.
Jarvis called me with a barrage of abuse which numbered every swear word known to man and woman.
I’ll never forget his passing salvo, which included: “Darryll will ride my horse and if you take him off I will put him back on. You will never work in f***ing racing again.”
As it happens the latter comment proved inaccurate, surely much to many a reader’s chagrin.
However, Jarvis did continue to click on his computer every time I tried to remove the rider to the extent that in the end the powers that be had to be brought in to tell the trainer Holland would not be on top.
Most read in Horse Racing
CURRARRGH
Punters see £7,000 vanish after 1-100 horse and jockey suffer ‘all-time horror’
FIVER FLUTTER
This 29-1 Leicester double can strike in style on a busy Monday
TEMPLEGATE’S TIPS
My 6-1 NAP looks certain to relish this trip and track after recent win
FIVER FLUTTER
This 6-1 shot has dropped a long way down the weights at Hamilton
As it happens, neither horse performed with much credit. It was a testing 48 hours!
In recent years William and I made up. And I loved sitting with him after Lady Bowthorpe landed the Nassau at Goodwood for Emma Banks.
"It's really sad William is retiring he's been amazing to me and my family," Banks said.
"Lady Bowthorpe was our superstar and I'm so delighted William was able to have that Group 1 win.
"I will miss the whole vibe of Phantom House. It wasn't a huge yard so I knew everyone and hopefully we will all keep in touch."
I know that success of Lady Bowthorpe meant so much to Jarvis after some quiet years. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best for the future.
Now, onto the jocks themselves.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Tote: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Virgin Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets – CLAIM HERE
Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £5 and win or lose you will receive £20 Tote Credit. £20 Tote Credit rewarded as £10 redeemable against racing bets only and £10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org
Virgin Bet: New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ begambleaware.org
Betfair: New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org
You would think all was well with riders over the whip and the lack of saunas. But just because it’s all gone quiet, don’t believe the weighing room is a happy place.
The desire by the BHA to do everything by the book and not use any common sense is quite ridiculous when it comes to the whip, and that was seen clearly over a ride Richard Patrick gave to Famoso at Stratford at the end of August.
Famoso was winning for the first time on his 17th start and, to most people, was given a cracker by Patrick for trainer Matt Sheppard.
The pair got up close home despite the winning jockey losing an iron on the run-in.
However, Patrick was hit with a seven-day ban for using his whip in the wrong place. I mean he lost his iron for goodness sake.
To expect an exact science-type ride would have been insane. I’d have given Patrick a medal.
Why can’t stewards just be sensible? Only the BHA know the reason.
On the sauna front still no one at BHA has provided any help or alternative to riders. Zero.
Meanwhile, there aren't many people who work with race horses at 6ft 6ins in the UK and there is about to be one less.
The gentle giant that is Harry Taylor has been at the Gary Moore yard since the age of 15 but after eight and a bit glorious years he's off to Australia.
Speaking of his upheaval, he told me: "I think it's time to see a bit of the world so I'm going to work with horses in Australia and do a bit of travelling.
"I've got friends and family out there so depending on how it goes will probably stay out for a year."
Taylor has not only looked after horses but is known in the trade as one of the speedier (legally) horse box drivers!
He added: "My favourite horse was Teddy Blue who I looked after but Cheltenham will always be the best racecourse and I will always remember Editeur du Gite winning there in 2021. That was amazing.
"The lads – Gary, Josh and Jamie – are the hardest working people I have ever met.
"I remember on one occasion Gary fell off his horse and we ended up catching it at the top of the gallops. The boss was walking up the gallops looking very confused.
"I drove over in the jeep and said, 'are you all right?' He looked at me as if he had no idea what I was talking about and just replied, 'I have no clue', and we both laughed.
Good luck Harry. Will miss seeing you on track although driving to Lingfield will be a lot safer!
And finally, my eyecatcher of the weekend…
READ MORE SUN STORIES
BIG CHANGES
Big Brother in huge shake up for launch as ITV clears schedules for first night
POO KNEW?
The truth about 'marble' poos – and how it's a sign you need to act now
Although many believe Significantly would have been an unlucky loser of the Ayr Gold Cup if the gaps hadn't appeared I was left feeling my weekend Nap Albasheer was the true hard luck story of the Scottish feature.
Archie Watson's tough boy came from near last to fourth and would have been clear in a few more strides alone up the stand side. There's a big pot in him.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Source: Read Full Article
