Jockey arrangements

[Desert Orchid]

I know I asked this kind of thing before (and I honestly did try and search for the previous thread I started on it) but I still am unsure about some of the jockey arrangements.

I thought JJ Slevin's contract with Souede & Munir gave him first dibs even with the Mullins horses but Townend was on one yesterday when Slevin didn't have one in the race. can anyone clarify for me again, please?

Does Mark Walsh have first dibs on the JP horses at Mullins's? If so, could he have had the option of riding I Am Maximus?

Does Walsh or O'Neil have first dibs on the JP horses trained in Britain or it it down to stable jockeys? I'm wondering why Junior is on Iroko and not riding the Jonjo horse.

Did Cobden have a completely free choice over the PFNs?

Who would have been behind the decision to offer Reveley (a brilliant booking imo) for Bravemansgame?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mr Whatoxo]

I agree about the booking of James Reveley, but wouldn’t have a clue as to why they landed upon him. I heard Nick Luck relaying Harry Cobden’s thoughts after schooling all Paul Nicholls entrants that judged on the schooling, Bravemansgame was easily the best of them.

As for the other questions, I would surmise that Willie Mullins & JP/Frank Berry exert quite a lot of influence over who rides what and there is an element of regular riders having a relationship with a particular horse involved in this. JJ Slevin may have more chance of first pick for Munir/Suede in Ireland than in UK and as he also still wants to ride for Joseph O’Brien and the Mulryan’s maybe there is a bit of give and take involved.

I learnt the hard way not to set too much store by jockey bookings as I think it just adds another element of guesswork to the puzzle.

 

[Grey]

interviewed just now, Mark Walsh said "I was never going to be getting on I Am Maximus or Iroko..."