Adrian Heskin- Barry Connell's new retained jockey

unitedrover

Danny Mullins has been replaced as retained rider to Barry Donnell by Adrian Heskin. Bit of a shock but not a surprise. Thought he might have got a chance this season at least though.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/9527305/barry-connell-turns-to-adrian-heskin

bellybuster12

....

bellybuster12

unitedrover wrote: »

Danny Mullins has been replaced as retained rider to Barry Donnell by Adrian Heskin. Bit of a shock but not a surprise. Thought he might have got a chance this season at least though.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/9527305/barry-connell-turns-to-adrian-heskin

http://www.attheraces.com/article.aspx?ref=RSS+Feed&nav=news&hlid=548741&lid=PA+Racing+Feed&title=Connell+turns+to+Heskin&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I'll delete my thread!! your're too quick for me:)

Huntley

Heskin is quality. Michael Hourigan has moulded some class jockeys down in Patrickswell, it's a shame he doesn't get better animals for the achievements he has.

cack_handed

Understandable enough decision but feel sorry for D Mullins all the same, still time for him to improve and have a decent career

Why does Connell feel the need to have a retained jockey anyway? He could just keep his horses in top stables and have the best available riding them. Same goes for Potts as good as JJ Burke might yet be

Andalucia

I guess the benefit of a retained jockey is that they can provide feedback from schooling the horses and then riding them in the races, as opposed to just getting the best available to ride them in the races, there is no guarantee of the same jockey riding it each time, given they like to pick and choose as to what may be the best chance of any given race

Would have to agree with Hourigan and his development of jockeys, Heskin has always looked good, nice to see him get a chance now in a few Grade 1's which the Tullow Tank should be winning

Now O'Connell should look at the trainers he is employing, as for the cash he has splassed, his return has been brutal. Given what he is paying for the point to point/bumper winners, its hard to believe he has had so few winners.

Interesting to see how the trainer side of things will develop now with Alan Fleming training for him - be interesting to see if he could do anything with a few of Sharks cast offs.

zpehtsfd

Heskin is top class. Just struck Barry Connells horses off my DNB list. Great news for us punters. imo.

cashcarson

wonder was danny mullins run in with Norman Lee last week the final straw probably not but it cant of helped

The Mig

And he's gone!

https://twitter.com/RacingPost/status/717280283293302784

Kauto

The Mig wrote: »

And he's gone!

https://twitter.com/RacingPost/status/717280283293302784

Cant help that Barry has a very average trainer in Fleming and also has a few with the Shark:). Turned all the horses into bridle ponces. Talks them up constantly and they very rarely deliver.
In fairness to Heskin he was a far better appointment than Danny and far more competent over fences.

krustydoyle

In all fairness who'd want this job??

Imhof Tank

krustydoyle wrote: »

In all fairness who'd want this job??

Might suit Davy?

Coming to the end of his own career - a racing manager gig for BOC while he breeds and produces a few of his own on the side not too shabby

cson

Custom made for Davy.

posturingpat

Davy's the man for the job, Connell's a complete and utter arsehole that thinks he's got the racing mind of a Vincent O Brien or Dermot Weld, Russell wouldn't be long letting telling him a few home truths with regards his horses.

cson

Whatever you think of him personally, he's good for racing in Ireland - he's put phenomenal amounts of his own money into the game and he's not had much luck for it. Our Conor being a prime example.

Andalucia

Russell is too smart to bother getting involved with O'Connell, Shortall gets a few rides off them, so may get the call

Mullins only lasted a couple of years, Heskin 18 months, it would appear that the ride on Foxrock last wkend resulted in today's news, wouldn't say Heskin losing any sleep over it, Mullins had a great year after being let go

O'Connell would be better off looking at his bloodstock agents and his trainers -

O'Connell is great for racing alright, the bigger the asking price, the more likely he is to be interested - he has bought some complete muck along the way - there must be some pot of gold under his rainbow as its actually unreal what he has spent on horses - he must have spent multiples of what Ricci has spent for a paltry return in comparison

Three examples:

Old Kilcash, bought for 330k, sent to Shark, managed to win a maiden hurdle in Downpatrick, after flopping a few times at bigger tracks, never heard of since

Golantilla, trained to the minute by Sean O'Brien to win a bumper by half the track, sold for 375k, sent to Tony Martin, scraped home in a bad maiden hurdle at Thurles, then Fleming managed to get a chase out of it in Killarney, last seen pulling up last month, unlikely to be heard from again

Edelpour, 450k purchase from Weld Aga Khan last September, no sign of him as a juvenile hurdler, be interested to see it he appears next winter

kfallon

How much did he pay for Mossey Joe, was it around €250k? For a hunter chaser :rolleyes:

JJs Left Hand

Jesus I'd forgotten all about Old Kilcash and Mossey Joe. The story of the latter was hilarious and tragic at the same time

Charlie George

O Connell is a true horse man and serious owner who pumps a load of money into the game,you won't hear him talking rubbish re his horses like the rich fella,o Connell knows his stuff.

Kauto

Charlie George wrote: »

O Connell is a true horse man and serious owner who pumps a load of money into the game,you won't hear him talking rubbish re his horses like the rich fella,o Connell knows his stuff.

He does in his hoop know his stuff!! If he did he wouldnt have horses with Shark. He wouldnt have appointed Danny Mullins as his retained jockey. He wouldnt make himself a laughing stock by buying Mossy Joe or Old Kilcash. He is poorly adivsed by Gerry Hogan aswell who must be getting some cut!

As with most wealthy business men they are complete idiots when it comes to horses. Obvious exceptions such as O'Leary and Ricci

cson

The two mentioned above have Howard Kirk & Eddie O'Leary looking after the buying side of things though, I'd imagine Connell does a lot off his own bat.

Charlie George

Kauto wrote: »

He does in his hoop know his stuff!! If he did he wouldnt have horses with Shark. He wouldnt have appointed Danny Mullins as his retained jockey. He wouldnt make himself a laughing stock by buying Mossy Joe or Old Kilcash. He is poorly adivsed by Gerry Hogan aswell who must be getting some cut!

As with most wealthy business men they are complete idiots when it comes to horses. Obvious exceptions such as O'Leary and Ricci

You say Ricci is an exception,your having a laugh,all ricci does is sign the cheques,and does what willie/ruby tells him.

the groutch

cson wrote: »

I'd imagine Connell does a lot off his own bat.

well nobody with half a brain would advise him to spend 170k on an 11yo hunter chaser.

Kauto

Charlie George wrote: »

You say Ricci is an exception,your having a laugh,all ricci does is sign the cheques,and does what willie/ruby tells him.

Ricci may not know a lot about horses but Barry knows less judging by their respective records. Its been proven without doubt that he doesnt know what he is doing. But its his money and the best of luck to him.

Lt Dan

Charlie George wrote: »

You say Ricci is an exception,your having a laugh,all ricci does is sign the cheques,and does what willie/ruby tells him.

Not a bad way to go then, having two experts on his side.

Wonder how would he fare in the flats, after all Max Dynamite was an ex French flat horse who ran in a Group 1 over there (I know, Mullins likes his French horses)

Lt Dan

Lads, does anyone think JP McManus is that great on the horses. I know he regularly wins the British and Irish Owners Championships (well Gigginstown are finally getting their act together) I know he still wins more races than others but he has loads of horses, and is a little like Godolpin in that the minute Bolger or someone else breeds or trains a decent horse the cheque book is out.

He doesn't really seem to have a consistent line of Group 1 greats lately. It seemed to have hurt McCoy at Cheltenham over the years in the sense of two - three group 1's at a meeting, though to be fair, in 2013-2014 he had a few good ones (and failed AP failed to pick the right one much to Geraghty's good fortune) He has some awful yokes when he piles load of them in in big handicaps (which, he does tend to win a fair share)

You look at Ricci. How many does he have? He looks to get Group 1 caliber horses; The Wylies also seem to be a quality over quantity type of people

To many I am talking utter tosh, I know many would defend JP but I am genuinely interested the view is on McManus and his selection of horses. I am not attacking JP, he spreads his horses around to many trainers in Ireland and Britain, even some to the "smaller" guy..

Andalucia

JP loves the handicaps, nothing better than getting one well handicapped and punting them off the board as has happened all year

BumperD

the groutch wrote: »

well nobody with half a brain would advise him to spend 170k on an 11yo hunter chaser.

He sources his own horses. That's part of the fun for him. But he has bought some poor ones as do most in this game (r ricci being the exception to that rule who uses kirk)

PM me nudes

Denis O'Regan appointed as new retained jockey :pac:

krustydoyle

Jaysus Dennis, sign nothing and run while you can

posturingpat

Denis is his own man too, he'll have no worries telling Barry how it is. Bit of an arrogant so and so some might say but it should work for him here.

Lt Dan

posturingpat wrote: »

Denis is his own man too, he'll have no worries telling Barry how it is. Bit of an arrogant so and so some might say but it should work for him here.

"Arrogant"? Isn't Denis from Cork? That is not arrogance, that is just nature.

Peintre Celebre

O'Regan hasn't ridden a winner in about two years

Francie Barrett

Peintre Celebre wrote: »

O'Regan hasn't ridden a winner in about two years

Should be at home riding for Barry then.

carman2011

what is it with connell always retaining a shockingly bad jockey.
for the money he spends, his horses do awful.
he needs to get lessons from rich ricci

between a combination of shocking purchases, and bad luck (ie spending a million on our connor, was unlucky), but mostly his horses are expensive mid range handicappers at best.

danganabu

Not sure where the perception that Denis O'Regan is a bad jockey has come from?? He had an excellent strike rate when he was Ferguson's retained Jockey a strike rate that hasn't been seen since, and of course wont be with Ferguson handing in his licence.

Rumours are that he is not a very likeable sort and would be quite unpopular among other jockies but his talent as a jockey has never been under question IMO.

posturingpat

danganabu wrote: »

Not sure where the perception that Denis O'Regan is a bad jockey has come from?? He had an excellent strike rate when he was Ferguson's retained Jockey a strike rate that hasn't been seen since, and of course wont be with Ferguson handing in his licence.

Rumours are that he is not a very likeable sort and would be quite unpopular among other jockies but his talent as a jockey has never been under question IMO.

I wouldn't be a big fan of his but he is a good horseman. I think the perception of him as a poor jockey probably stems from his style, he's got great hands but he's average or below average when it comes to a driving finish and that's the only part some people pay attention to.
He should be a decent fit for this job as plenty of the horses seem to be bridle Ponce's which will suit him lovely and he's quite abrasive so Connell won't be getting strict instructions adhered to which will be to the best in the long run if Connell doesn't sack him after 3 months.

Shemale

cson wrote: »

Whatever you think of him personally, he's good for racing in Ireland - he's put phenomenal amounts of his own money into the game and he's not had much luck for it. Our Conor being a prime example.

No sympathy for him, have Danny Mullins as your jockey and then spend a million on OC, real case of going full retard ala Tropic Thunder

Shemale

Kauto wrote: »

He does in his hoop know his stuff!! If he did he wouldnt have horses with Shark. He wouldnt have appointed Danny Mullins as his retained jockey. He wouldnt make himself a laughing stock by buying Mossy Joe or Old Kilcash. He is poorly adivsed by Gerry Hogan aswell who must be getting some cut!

As with most wealthy business men they are complete idiots when it comes to horses. Obvious exceptions such as O'Leary and Ricci

You should post more.:D

Shemale

Charlie George wrote: »

You say Ricci is an exception,your having a laugh,all ricci does is sign the cheques,and does what willie/ruby tells him.

Barry could very easily go to Mullins and say I want you to buy me 6 horses and I will give you €2,000,000 mod edit: <snip>would love to tell him the majority of male NH horses are gelded. :eek:

the groutch

Peintre Celebre wrote: »

O'Regan hasn't ridden a winner in about two years

danganabu wrote: »

Rumours are that he is not a very likeable sort and would be quite unpopular among other jockies

Sounds like him an Culloty are made for each other.