Where is our Roy Keane? Racing punditry needs that fire when things go wrong
Racing pundits should not shy away from criticising figures within the sport

For anyone who backed Field Of Gold to win the 2,000 Guineas, the colt’s latest sensational performance at Royal Ascot will have only increased the pain – and it increased my feelings that many in racing were guilty of a dereliction of duty in their reaction to what happened at Newmarket.
There was radio silence on ITV at the time following Kieran Shoemark’s ride. The closest to criticism the panel edged was to say: “Field Of Gold was caught flat-footed.” Anybody who had taken short odds about the favourite or longer ones ante-post may have felt “flat-footed” did not quite capture their emotions.
We all know the value of a strong opinion. Scroll through Sky Sports’ social media feed and you will find it littered with thumbnails of Roy Keane about to enter a nuclear meltdown because a player has had the audacity to swap shirts with his opponent. Yet there has always been an atmosphere in racing that this sport is different from others. It is perfectly acceptable to question a footballer for missing an open goal, but in racing a jockey misjudging pace or making a tactical mess is often met with silence. Why?
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inAnother View
Last updated
- The Wathnan way - it might be expensive but my goodness is it delivering!
- Wesley Ward absence is a blow to Royal Ascot - but it's not all doom and gloom for international challenge
- Epsom results cheered in Chester as track gets welcome fillip after last year's freak incident
- There's one apprentice I want to have on my side at Royal Ascot next week - and Epsom showed just what a talent he is
- £470 for a family of four? Epsom has lots of issues but reducing scandalous kids’ prices should be an easy win
- The Wathnan way - it might be expensive but my goodness is it delivering!
- Wesley Ward absence is a blow to Royal Ascot - but it's not all doom and gloom for international challenge
- Epsom results cheered in Chester as track gets welcome fillip after last year's freak incident
- There's one apprentice I want to have on my side at Royal Ascot next week - and Epsom showed just what a talent he is
- £470 for a family of four? Epsom has lots of issues but reducing scandalous kids’ prices should be an easy win