Last-day heartache can turn to joy… ask United!
STANDING in front of a camera on the day titles are decided requires ruthlessness. There is always the potential for two stories but one, immediately, will be ditched.
I’ll give you an example. In May 2012, I presented the deciding afternoon in the Premier League, when Manchester City and Manchester United were embroiled in an epic battle for the trophy. I can still recite every line of Martin Tyler’s commentary for Sergio Aguero’s famous winning goal against QPR and still remember the minute detail of the day. But United at Sunderland? I know they won 1-0, but that’s about it. Champions do things that burn into your memory. The runners-up disappear into a void, their contribution to the drama just a footnote.
Today at Sandown, I will front the conclusion to another titanic battle. We anticipate Willie Mullins will become Champion Trainer, seeing off the challenge of Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls, and what an incredible achievement that will be.
This has been the winter of Mullins. The Jumps season spluttered along at times, with small fields and an unusual Cheltenham sparking great debate. Change, particularly at the Festival, needs to come. You have to acknowledge, however, that we’ve been blessed by Mullins.
April has been enlivened by his historic pursuit of the trainers’ gong and the same has been true in the race to be crowned Champion Jockey. Harry Cobden, with 163 wins, has pipped his great mate Sean Bowen, who has 157 but has run out of time.
Cobden, like City 12 years ago, is a worthy winner. I’ve made my admiration clear for him in these pages many times. But Bowen won’t be like United on that fateful day. I won’t forget what the unsung hero of this National Hunt season has done for racing.
When I make the trophy presentations later, Sean will be given due recognition. Had luck been on his side, there is every reason to believe he would have been the man getting the trophy rather than watching from the shadows.
How ruinous that injury after a fall on Boxing Day has proven for him. Holding a lead of 30, Bowen then spent six weeks waiting for his knee to heal and Cobden pounced. Even when hope seemed gone, Sean kept plugging away and he’s been firing in winners at Perth in recent days to keep the pressure on. It’s been tremendous to see him and his brother, James, come out of their shells and show their personalities. They will be big figures in the years to come. United won the title 12 months after enduring their 2012 last-day heartache. Why can’t Sean Bowen do the same?