Dick Francis to ride Kauto Star? .

TOm Kelly

anything seems to be possible now ... if Swan rides this ... I will pack it in ... surely there is a gigantic difference between riding out and being 'Championship' race fit ...

Swan enters frame for Inca ride
27 Feb 2007

Charlie Swan emerged on Wednesday evening as a candidate to make a shock return to the saddle on Brave Inca in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in two weeks' time.

County Wexford handler Colm Murphy is anxiously waiting on the availability of Tony McCoy, with the strong possibility he will be required to ride Straw Bear for his boss, JP McManus.

McCoy has been the tough nine-year-old's regular partner in recent seasons and famously won the blue riband on him 12 months ago, while Ruby Walsh stepped in to partner the gelding to success in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas - Walsh, however, could be needed for the Paul Nicholls-trained Desert Quest.

"There's nothing been decided. I'm not sure what 'AP' (McCoy) is doing yet, I'm not sure what anyone is doing yet," Murphy said.

"I don't know what is happening. I'll wait until the middle of next week before we start panicking.

"Everyone is a little bit tight-lipped at the moment and I don't think 'AP' knows what he is doing yet. As soon as we know he can't ride him, we'll start looking elsewhere."

Asked if Swan could take the ride, he said: "I wouldn't rule it in or out. We'll see what happens. It's an option."

Swan, now a successful trainer, will be forever remembered for his exploits on the great Istabraq, winner of the Champion in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

fade2black

Would you like your subject title edited?

TOm Kelly

No thanks fade ... by the way - is there a way for a poster to edit the title of their own thread? Thanks.

careca

I was pretted shocked when I heard this on the radio this morning. I actually had to check it wasn't 1st April. Surely Murphy will have more sense than to put Swan up (great jockey and all that he was) and surely Swan will have more sense than to look for the ride.

Mind you, it would be some fairytale if he pulled it off.

fade2black

TOm Kelly wrote:

No thanks fade ... by the way - is there a way for a poster to edit the title of their own thread? Thanks.

I always thought there was but I think it's been changed. Usually if you double click outside the subject title it will allow you to edit it.

TOm Kelly

Got it fade - I just added a full stop to title ...

You have to click on 'Go Advanced' and then you can edit title .... all these years I thought that could not be done... Thanks.

fade2black

Why did you add a full stop? You don't need one when you have a question mark.

terry mac

Can anyone confirm if these jockey's are tied up for Champion?

McNamara, Fitzgerald, Timmy Murphy, Thornton, Dobbin etc. There's enough good jockey's out there to go round.

johnnysmurfman

There's young, strong, fit lads all over the country who'd give Brave Inca a better ride that the millionaire Charlie Swan who hasn't ridden a race in years. He won't ride it, he can't possibly ride it, it would be a suicide mission if he did, he just won't be fit enough or strong enough, which factors are particularly important for Brave Inca. Surely this is just nonsense. Inca works after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday and you can be sure that whoever works him that day will ride him at the Festival and imho it won't be Charlie Swan.

The jock

If neither Ruby or McCoy doesnt ride Brave Inca i think that Charlie Swan will get the ride.He rides out nearly every morning so ive heard from a friend of mine who works in the Swan yard and I think he would be race fit to ride Brave Inca.Colm Murphy was a good close friend to Charlie when he was a jockey in the Aidan O Brien yard(before his move to ballydoyle).I know Colm personally as he used ride my uncles horses when he was a jockey for Aidan O Brien and I dont think Barry Cash will get the ride after his falling out with the owners.Charlie Swan was the best jumps jockey ever in Ireland and he was my racing Icon growing up and was one of the reasons I became a jockey.So I wouldnt rule out Charlie at all.Paddy Flood is another possible contender for the ride also.

fade2black

Or Desert Quest won't run in the CH and Ruby will take the ride.

fits

riding out 'nearly every morning' does not equal champion race fit... at all. This is madness if its true.

mdwexford

not one person on this board knows how fit Charlie Swan has been keeping himself, hes only 39 and is one of the best jocks of all time. i for one would love to see him ride in another Champion Hurdle and if he does you can be sure he'll ride a perfect race on Brave Inca.

I still think Ruby will be on board though. Id say hes begging Nicholls not to run Desert Quest as we speak....