Friday's Betchronicle.com Ormonde Stakes at Chester did not make for good viewing with the Group Three reduced to a farce.
Those who did not see the race were spared the torture of watching three horses trot along at a snail’s pace as their jockeys stuck to their orders not to set the pace. It was good to see William Buick finally make the brave decision to Buccellati into the lead and he was duly rewarded as Andrew Balding's charge came home three lengths to the good of Scintillo.
At a time when racing needs all the good publicity possible the 2009 running of the Ormonde Stakes would have done little to attract new punters. Those present at Chester made their feelings clear to the jockeys involved with Johnny Murtagh booed on his return to the parade ring.
Murtagh did not hide, however, and he must be commended for braving the television cameras to explain his ride aboard last year's Irish Derby winner. Simply, he was told by master trainer Aidan O'Brien to drop his mount back and he did not feel it prudent to go against the handler's instructions.
"He's not a horse that runs from the front. I don't think it would have suited him being in front. I did think after a furlong that I should go on, but then I said ‘no'," Murtagh explained.
"People are entitled to be upset and disappointed. I always do my best every day. I went out there with the best intentions, but things just didn't fall into place."
Murtagh provided punters with plenty to cheer about in 2008 with ten Group One victories to his name so he can be forgiven for thinking he was making the right decision on Friday. Things did not go according to plan for the jockey and he held his hands up to accepted responsibility, which was refreshing, and he made amends as he guided Age Of Aquarius to victory in Lingfield's Derby Trial the following afternoon.
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While Murtagh was on duty at Longchamp on Sunday, Seamus Heffernan stepped into the breach to partner Fame And Glory to an impressive victory in the Derrinstown Derby Stud Trial.
The son of Montjeu had caught the eye when winning the Ballysax Stakes at the same venue last month and he certainly looks the one to beat in next month's Investec Derby. Unsurprisingly he was re-installed as the favourite for the blue riband on June 6 but the market is likely to change again on Thursday when Crowded House runs in the Dante Stakes at York.
However, Fame And Glory's stylish win at Leopardstown will be hard to surpass and at the moment the money is on him to complete the Ballysax-Derrinstown-Derby treble in four weeks time - a treble already completed by Galileo and High Chaparral.