In the world of the GAA long ago, there was a utility player who was all the rage. He could fill in at any position from goalkeeper to left corner forward. He was the perfect manifestation of the ‘roving role’ in that he was availabe to each of the 32 counties. London and New York too.
The character to whom reference is being made is, of course, that shadowy figure formerly known as Duine Eile/A. N. Other who was a regular contributor to match programmes for decades. His appearance generating curiosity and foreboding in equal measure.
Because it generally meant somebody was a major doubt or completely ruled out. Now, for the week before the game it had been though highly unlikely he would play, it was still a dig in the guts to hear the familiar voice of the PA man in Croke Park declare “Fogra faoi na foirne, No. 13 Colm O’Rourke does not play, he will be replaced by No. 17, Gerry McEntee”.
Then, there were the occasions when the international man of mystery was sent on a dud mission. When a team’s star player was ‘definitely’ out only for the player in question to pull a Lazarus by match day. Martin Lynch, Kildare, 1998 for example!
Anyway, lately this corner has found himself having to use A. N. Other when putting up selections for a given day’s racing. A curious situation, you’re probably thinking. Curious indeed.
The explanation, however, is relatively simple. That being the fairly new practice of bookmakers quoting Reserves in the betting, even though there may be a snowball’s chance in hell of said horse getting a run. Doubtless, there will probably those who will point out that if the reserve doesn’t get a run, punters would get their money back.
For me though, why must bookies put reserves in the betting when they, before anybody else I might add, know full well that the steed in question has as much chance of running as Wile E. Koyote has of catching the Road Runner!
Obviously, to every rule of thumb there has to be the odd exception. There have been few better examples of this than that of Dun Doire. Now, when it comes to going for – and landing – a touch, I reckon Tony Martin could give the late, great Barney Curley a run for his money.
Maybe not on a Yellow Sam scale, but there’s no shame in that. Dunderry still basically remains a quiet, idyllic part of rural Co Meath. Best known for its Fair and producing Royal County footballers. Such as Sean Kelly, Stephen O’Rourke, Tommy and Kevin Dowd and numerous members of the Callaghan family.
Then, along came this horse that won at Leopardstown and was then pointed at the Thyestes Chase in Gowran Park at the end of the following month. The thing is, matters that look as simple as a-b-c very seldom end up as such.
The fly in the soup here was the fact Martin’s charge hadn’t made the ‘cut’ in the originally declared field. Yet the lads and lassies with the satchels kept taking the investments. Conclusion? They knew something the rest of us didn’t.
Lo-and-behold, come race day, one could only think of the familiar old voice on the tanoy in Croke Park No. 14, Kileaney, does not run, he will be replaced by No. 23 Dun Doire. After that, the rest is history.
There have been numerous scientific theories over the years as to how it came about but that could make a whole article all onto itself. For now though, the conundrum as to why bookies continue to lay bets on horses there’s a dam good chance won’t get a run abides. I reserve the right to be confused!
Leave a Reply