RACING legend Mick Fitzgerald says the rule top jockey Rob James used to his advantage to win the Scottish Grand National was ‘like stealing’.
James is one of Ireland’s best amateur jockeys with 264 winners in point-to-points.
Sensational from the mare!
Win My Wings storms to victory in the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase
#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/QW5FObdjt4
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 2, 2022
But he craftily used an allowance for riders with fewer than just 20 wins in the big race at Ayr on Saturday.
The difference is those 20 wins must come ‘under rules’ – basically racing speak for professional races.
James’ ‘claim’ meant he could take 7lbs off the weight the horse carried in the race because this was his 13th win under rules.
Win My Wings, one of three 13-2 co-favourites, demolished rivals by seven lengths with James celebrating way before the post, so it’s fair to say the horse would have won without James’ weight allowance.
And there is no doubt the Christian Williams-trained runner benefited from James’ skill in the saddle.
But former Grand National hero Fitzgerald said James’ claim was ‘like theft’ precisely because of his experience, which included a Cheltenham Festival winner in 2020.
Fitzgerald told ITV Racing: “For Rob James the jockey, it’s a huge day for him.
“It’s a real compliment to his ability. It’s like stealing.
“Him having a 7lb claim is like theft because he’s so experienced.
“He was looking around for dangers going to the last.”
Fitzgerald said James – called an ‘amateur in all but name’ by ITV reporter Alice Plunkett – and Win My Wings’ huge margin of victory was like the ref stopping a fight early.
He added: “She’s (the horse) just revelled in conditions, the way the race was run and the long distance.
“We saw that when she won the Eider. The ref stopped the fight early because it was game over.”
Top Welsh trainer Williams saddled the one-two with 13-2 Kitty’s Light coming second.
And speaking of his magical day, Williams said: “That was extraordinary. These are the races you dream of.”
Fitzgerald, right, said it was ‘like theft’ that a rider of James’ quality could still use a claim
