Top trainer’s threat over ‘Fatboy’ jibes
TOP Irish trainer Gordon Elliott is the latest racing figure to fall out with ITV’s irritant betting pundit Matt Chapman, who has caused much controversy this year.
Chapman has kept ribbing the sturdily built Elliott about his weight, calling him ‘Fatboy’ on air, much to his annoyance.
This reached a head at Punchestown when Elliott saddled the 1,000th winner of his career and told reporter Gary O’Brien of At The Races — for whom Chapman also works — that this would be the last time he spoke to the specialist racing channel unless Chapman ‘stopped calling him out’, which he felt was highly disrespectful.
Elliott’s comments about Chapman were cut before the interview was broadcast. At The Races dominate televised Irish racing and to lose the co- operation of a trainer of Elliott’s standing would be a serious setback.
It is claimed Elliott and Chapman then had a face-to-face confrontation over the same issue in the Yard Pub in Newmarket after racing during the July Festival.
Elliott refused to comment, while Chapman said: ‘I said “Hi” to him in the Newmarket pub. Gordon has been a great friend of mine for years. He calls me “Orange boy” and I call him “Fatboy”. There is nothing in this.’
ITV Racing still retain full confidence in Chapman, whom they regard as a huge asset because, like him or loathe him, you can’t ignore him.
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