Q&A: Dan Barber

Name Dan Barber

Role Jumps Editor

What piqued your interest in the sport?

Apologies, Mark Johnston, but I first became interested in betting and the horse came later, not the other way around as the trainer has so often extolled. In my case, this betting interest came via greyhounds (my best pal’s father had a good dog at Belle Vue called Groine Express), but my Uncle’s ownership of a couple of horses with Jack Berry at the same time meant that racing became a natural stepping stone. It got to the point where I was obsessed with the yard’s runners, be that visiting early internet cafes whilst on family holidays in Italy to check how Bon Ami had fared in the Ayr Gold Cup or pestering Jack about his ‘best two-year-old’ on the occasional stable visit. The hook had pierced the skin by then and the angler at the other end of the line was in no mind to adopt a catch-and-release approach! If Mastermind ever came calling, Moss Side Racing Stables from 1999-2002 would be a no-brainer choice of specialised chosen subject.

Give us a successful horse you spotted early on their route to the top.

More of That would be the obvious answer. I can’t say I was convinced he was a top-notcher when he belied long odds on his debut at Folkestone but I was sure he was in that category when he saw off a horse (Twelve Paces) I had as a thrown-in at the time in a Wetherby handicap. It was around then, in my early days on Twitter, that I suggested J. P. McManus’ best chance of winning the World Hurdle would be via More of That (not listed in markets at that stage) rather than long-time market leader At Fishers Cross. Luckily, he didn’t miss a beat for the rest of the season – his subsequent decline was a hard watch as I’m convinced he’d have been at the level of Big Buck’s had he stayed sound.

Give us a horse you thought was going to reach the top but never quite made it

Ordinarily, I’m not one for trying too hard to find the next ‘star’ – they’ll often make themselves known before too long anyway and there aren’t enough of them to profit from them as much as you can by identifying a handicapper with a stone or two in hand. I suppose that’s why More of That gave so much pleasure and why new-love Goshen’s fall at Cheltenham caused so much pain!

What factor/factors do you think punters place too much emphasis on?

Almost certainly ground. Now, that isn’t to say it isn’t of worth, but I hear so many people obsessing over the idea that horses can show their form only on a certain type of surface (‘his best form is on good to soft’ – give me a break, please), when the main factor at play in all that is more likely to be whether the horses in question are more about speed (and therefore would be at their most effective away from the mud) or stamina (opposite applies).

What factor/factors do you think is largely overlooked by punters?

Strength of form is age-old – horse racing 101 if you will – but its significance still doesn’t get the attention it deserves in my view. After a while, and when you’re in one of those periods where you’re absolutely on top of everything, you just know – or at least are confident in the belief – that certain races are certain to work out. Criticising jockeys is a racing media taboo these days but to suggest every rider is of equivalent ability would be like football pundits believing Jason Lee would be a like-for-like substitution with Alan Shearer. So, have in your mind riders you don’t believe have been getting the best out of a certain mount, and then have a bet the day someone you do rate is taking over.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone analysing a horserace?

This is a few steps down the line but there really is no substitute for knowing the horses and their traits, good and bad. I could cover a Redcar Flat meeting on Racing TV, put all the work in prepping and come to conclusions that don’t cause embarrassment, but if that low-grade card was taking place over jumps at, say, Stratford, I’d have a wealth of memories logged and views to call upon without having to dig too deep.

What would you change about the sport?

I avoid racing so I’ll leave arguments beyond my pay grade to those more informed/interested, but I do think centralised stewarding is a path well worth exploring. That apart, whilst it’s counter intuitive to point towards something from which you think you can profit, I find the rules around allowances for conditional riders perplexing in terms of logic. Conditionals get an allowance to help level the playing field when they ride against professionals, yet they can claim that and more when riding for their own stable in races against contemporaries. To this day I have no idea why.

Give us a trainer or two you think are underrated

Chris Gordon has made more waves at the top tracks in recent times but still doesn’t get the respect his work merits. His horses are fit, get sensible rides (Tom Cannon a perfect match for that yard) and know their job, and he can improve one from elsewhere. Nicky Richards is a more high-profile name but he, too, fails to get the credit he deserves. Just look at his record in bumpers at Ayr and Newcastle for instance – it’s so rare he misses, especially with newcomers.

Give us a young jockey you think will reach the top

Much depends on whether a high-profile Southern yard with the required ammunition has their eyes peeled but Tommy Dowson has been impressive from very early on, and his recent tie-up with up-and-coming training force Phil Kirby has been a positive and well-deserved stepping stone. I have little doubt he could mix it on the bigger days if asked – anyone who has witnessed his handling of Lady Buttons ought to have a similar view.

Give us a Horse To Follow for next season

Gustavian was just about first choice, but then I had another five minutes of thinking time and jumped ship to the similarly youthful Greaneteen, who took so well to chasing in his first season – and wasn’t seen to anything like best effect when in the frame in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham – that only mishap can prevent him making his presence felt in graded chases next season and beyond.

Also read Q&As with:

Martin Greenwood

Ben Fearnley

David Johnson

Peter Entwistle

Pat Jupp

Dave Yates

Andrew Sheret

Graeme North

Martin Dixon