Rancid Ruminations - 12 July 2023

This RTE imbroglio seems bound to lead to a good healthy purge. For many years it was run as a private fiefdom where corporate governance just did not apply. Aside from the financial slackness, generations of the same families followed each other into the station as if by divine right (the Sports department was especially afflicted). Apart from a generally efficient news team over the years, and occasionally Prime Time, its output is fairly mediocre. Ok, I like Nationwide also and Sunday Miscellany and that John Bowman programme early on Saturday – and I’m sure I’m forgetting many other worthy shows. However, in general, the term  “Talent” was at best an exaggeration, at worst a ludicrous misnomer.  It’s most enjoyable and informed radio presenters (such John Creedon, Philip King, Sean Rocks and the entire Lyric team) were not included under this precious umbrella. Fair dues to Tubridy for turning the base metal of his talent into gold but I never rated him beyond bland (and he banged on all year about that bloody Toy Show), nor the annoyingly cheerful Ray D’Arcy, and as for man-o-the-people Joe Duffy, heaven forfend. Off with all their heads I say, or at least curtail their salaries or let them see how they fare on the open market. As someone whose worked in journalism I can tell you that most practitioners find it hard to eke out a living from it. Most would happily settle for any salary that approached or exceeded six figures.

I was mildly amazed by the outpouring of grief on our national media (especially RTE) on the death of Christy Dignam. It was almost Lady Di-like in its coverage. Lead item on the nine-o-clock news, multiple interviews with friends, family and fans, and follow-up coverage of his funeral cortège. Now to be honest I was never a fan, in fact I wasn’t even sure who he was as I had a tendency to mix him up with Christy Hennessy – both tended to play the working-class hero card. I had heard of Aslan but never listened to them much and couldn’t name a single song of theirs. But maybe it’s a generational thing and I’m in the minority here. Listening to his songs and singing I’d say he had a modest talent but seemed to be a pretty sound guy – sincere, articulate, and honest. But he ain’t Prince or even Bono. I suspect that he was a very good live performer and to Dubliners of a certain generation he represented a seminal period in their lives. A generation that now make decisions about content on our national media perhaps. If Bono were ever to die (God forbid) we’d have to close down the country for a week to accord him proportionate respect. 

 

The intractable divisions in the North are getting air time again today. The same dreary stuff. I am continually amazed that nobody north, south or across the water has addressed the major factor that contributes to this tiresome, anachronistic situation. By and large new arrivals to these the two warring tribes are separated at birth and placed in two different educational systems. If the southern states of the USA can desegregate education then surely it’s not beyond our wit to do the same. But where’s the will? Whose brave enough to even suggest it? Where’s the Martin Luther King? 

 

 

 

Richard Ford Turns on Local at Dalkey Book Festival

 

The Dalkey Book Festival is a genteel event where concerned book lovers turn up in droves to sit at the feet of a distinguished cast of international writers from the worlds of literature and politics. The format is usually an interview followed by a Q & A. Aside from the odd bore, these Q & A sessions are mild affairs with gentle lobs aimed at the distinguished guests. Controversy is rare, these are love-ins where the converted are being preached to. Even the comedians are treated with reverence. A tired-looking Dylan Moran did a set in a packed hall at the Cuala GAA club that, apart from 10 minutes or so where he slagged of those lucky enough to live in the area, was distinctly weak. He clearly ran out of energy and material as the show went on and finished up early. Nonetheless the packed hall gave him a generous ovation at the premature end.

 However, I am sad to report these tranquil proceedings were disrupted yesterday by this writer when I managed to turn that benign elder statesman of US letters Richard Ford into a snarling beast. Here’s how it happened.The well-known literary hatchet-woman Claire Lowdon had recently published a vicious attack on the man and his work in the Times Literary Supplement. Amongst the many literary crimes cited she accused him of being racist, sexist and boring. There seemed to be a tendency in her review to conflate Ford with his character Frank Bascombe in Be Mine (his latest) and other novels. She also encouraged her readers not to buy Be Mine.

 

I’m an admirer of Ford’s meandering style and have enjoyed most of his books. I was pissed off by the flagrant unfairness of this review. When it came to Q & A I was first up. I asked him had he read the abusive review and if so what was his response. “I never read reviews”, he answered, “my wife does and filters the contents before I see them”. I then started to try give him a précis of the review but he interrupted me in an agitated fashion and there was much hand waving from interviewer Merve Imre (a great hand waver generally by the way even in the most placid of situations). “Stop stop!” was the message. The microphone bearer was sent to wrest the organ of discourse from my blood-stained hands but I motored on about Lowdon’s urging us not to read his book. The mood in the room turned ugly, lynching was never on the cards, but much tutt-tutting and turning around and glaring. (My poor wife sat frozen with mortification beside me.) I reluctantly handed it over but not before declaring limply “I thought this was a Q & A.” A clearly maddened Ford barked “grow up” from the stage. Lacking the mike I was unable to respond. If I had been, I might have made the point: “you’re telling me to grow up and yet you get your wife to read your reviews.” So perhaps it was for the best.

 

My big mistake of course was mistaking the nature of the game we play at these events. Instead of giving the great man a gentle lob, I executed a sliced backhand that he found unplayable. Poor show.

 

Shall I Compare Thee to a Small Tuscan City

Travel certainly broadens the mind and can make you aware of how fucked up some things are at home. On a recent trip to Tuscany I flew in to the small city of Pisa (pop. 90,000). Straight out of Arrivals I was able to get a clean, fast, modern, shuttle train service to the main station in the centre of the city: a hub for onward travel to Lucca, Florence etc. It cost 2 euro. On arrival back in Dublin it’s retrieve your car from an expensive car park (if you can find a space), catch an extortionate taxi, or take your chances on an Aircoach as it follows it’s latest ludicrous route (Never however to a central hub.) Our ostensibly business-oriented government still hasn’t managed to sort out such a basic requirement for a modern city. We should all I suppose cycle home.

Cheltenham 2023 – Day 3 & 4 Ruminations and Day 1 & 2 Triumphs and Regrets

 

I’ve had seven winners so far: two on Day 1 and five on Day 2 but apart from a Dream to Share (4-1) in the Bumper and Langer Dan (10-1) in the Coral Cup my bets were relatively modest. So I am well ahead but could perhaps have been braver. Also, Geri Colombe losing by a short head in the second race cost me close to four figures. However, more importantly, I am well covered for Day 3 with some multiple bets running on to horses tomorrow so I don’t need, for example, to back horses I have in doubles with my darling A Dream to Share.

 

So here goes. I’m a sucker for the big handicap hurdles and will go for two of Henderson’s Walking on Air (9-1) and Mill Green (25-1) in the Pertemps ar 2.10. One of Elliot’s sneakily well handicapped entries could of course do the business – but which one? In the Stayers Hurdle I have been getting promising intelligence for Home by the Lee from the owner (via a mutual friend) and Tom Segal has also tipped him He’s worth an ew nibble but bear in mind he ran a stinker here last year. De Bromhead’s horses have emerged from the doldrums (not a dry eye in the house when Honeysuckle won on that epic Tuesday) and he has multiple runners in the memorial race named after his son Jack. Foxy Girl (9-1) and Magical Zoe )7-1) seem the two best placed to provide the fairy tale result. The Kim Muir is not a reliable betting medium but I like the look of the handily weighed Angels Dawn (15-2) trained by Sam Curling down the road from Ardmayle. He unseated his apprentice jockey when cruising into contention at Punchestown in his last race and he owes me a few bob. His jumping is normally excellent and he stays well.

 

On Day 4 it’s all about the Gold Cup and I am hoping that time has not withered the two De Bromhead horses that have come first and second over the past two years: A Plus Tard (7-1) and Minella Indo (20-1). Having backed both of them on each occasion I will stick with them for surely they will win if I don’t – and I don’t like anything else in the race. My other bet will be on Hiddenvalley Lake (17-2) in the Alfred Bartlett. With four places on offer he is surely a good thing to be placed at least,

 

 

 

Cheltenham 2023 – Day 1 and Day 2 – Ruminations

I normally have strong feelings about the Supreme Novices Hurdle but I confess I am flummoxed by this year’s edition. The favourite Facile Vega ran a stinker last time out and I would prefer one of Mullins’ other runners Il Etait Temps. Marine Nationale has the best form but hasn’t run recently and his speed may be blunted by the forecast soft going. High Definition could be the answer but he fell last time and his jumping is generally sketchy. Staying is always a concern and one horse who will surely stay and is a tried and tested campaigner is Paul Nichols’ Tahmuras. He may have more modest top-grade form but at 11-1 he appeals as a decent e.w. bet. To confuse things even further I had hoped to back de Bromhead’s Inthepocket in the Ballymore and now I find he’s adding to my confusion by turning out here. Another e.w. chance perhaps..  

 

The Ultima offers plenty of decent ew value and I will be looking at two horses with good course form – Happygolucky (14-1) and Corach Rambler (7-1). The former is lightly raced this year and had a prep over a distance way too short. 

 

The Champion Hurdle is not a betting proposition but I’ll be interested to see how close State Man gets to Constitution Hill. 

 

The Mare’s Hurdle is a fascinating race – not least because we get to see how much Honeysuckle has declined. I would love to see her win but will be putting my few bob on Echoes in the Rain – a top flight flat horse with form on soft.

 

The Boodles at 16.50 is a lottery but I may speculate on Bad (9-1) trained by Ben Pauling – excellent French form and a modest weight. His trainer has had a great season and is positive about his chances.

 

I’m a sucker for a Henderson horse and will back Mister Coffey (9-1) in the last on the basis that he will have to stop coming second at some stage.

 

On Day 2 my main interest is in seeing if my only substantial ante-post bet A Dream to Share wins the Champion bumper. She was hugely impressive at Leopardstown – so much so that McManus who owned the second in that race promptly bought her from the Gleeson family.