It's the horsey people who put on the brave face

Some might even argue a case for Titus Bramble. But, as usual, it's the horsey people who put on the brave face, with the general reaction suggesting that Jonny is the more likely of our heroes to be destined for the knacker's yard.

Trainer Henrietta Knight must have been devastated when a burst blood vessel ruled Best Mate out of his attempt at a record fourth success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but she's from stiff upper lip stock and bravely predicted that he'll be back next year.

Jonny, meanwhile, could be finished, according to some doom-mongers, after lasting only 30 minutes on his third comeback of the season.

This is poppycock and I certainly wouldn't write him off from the Lions tour just yet, although the latest setback does raise questions about how his career needs to be managed and what adjustments he needs to make to his playing style.

The injury to his left knee recurred when he tackled a prop who was probably three or four stones heavier than him. Occasions when a fly half needs to tackle a prop are very rare, but my abiding memory of the Grand Slam decider two years ago is of Jonny tackling everything that moved.

It was a fair bet then that his body could not withstand such an onslaught for much longer, and while everyone insists he is mentally very tough he must be asking himself how he can avoid such a spate of injuries in the future.

The first essential is to make sure he's 100 per cent fit before venturing on to a pitch again, then to come back quietly and reduce his tackle count to the average for a No 10 instead of trying to treble it. And he can still be the best fly half in the world.

A week ago Rob Andrew was saying Jonny would be on the bench for the Harlequins match if he came through Friday's training with no reaction. But his hand seems to have been forced by another injury in the Falcons' ravaged squad and Jonny played from the start, instead of going on for the last 20 minutes.

Whether we see it as a gamble which backfired or simply more dreadful misfortune, it should now be clear that without wrapping our World Cup hero in cotton wool he does need protecting from his own exuberance.

IT'S an interesting concept that once sports stars reach such a massive peak as Jonny's winning kick in Sydney or Kelly Holmes' double Olympic gold the only way is down.

It was no surprise when Dame Kelly pulled out of the recent European Indoor Championships and she must know that, at 34, she will never reclaim the heights she attained in Athens.

Steve Cram had one brief but glorious interlude in his career when he kept smashing world records, while Ian Woosnam enjoyed one golden summer when he was indisputably the best golfer in the world.

There is always speculation that those who reach the summit early in life, such as Mike Tyson, Brian Lara and Tiger Woods, will be untouchable for ten years.

But it very rarely turns out that way, which is good for sport, because when an individual does attain Schumacher-like dominance we all cry "boring."

It's probably easier to stay at the top in non-contact sports, such as rowing, although even cricket now produces far more injuries than in the past. There is a temptation to put this down to a soft upbringing, but the continued striving to improve standards must have a great deal to do with it.

With Wilkinson and two others departing the scene last Sunday, the Falcons' casualty list grew to 14, while many football clubs are similarly afflicted, among them Middlesbrough, whose highly promising season has been sadly derailed.

In sport, as in life, those at the top never cease trying to push back boundaries, break records, and those just behind have to try all the harder to keep pace. While we admire those who push themselves to the limit, perhaps we should not be surprised when the body cries "enough."

OBVIOUSLY racehorses are similar to humans in that some never know when they are beaten and others are almost frightened to win. A furlong from the finish of Tuesday's Champion Hurdle the defending champion Hardy Eustace looked beaten as Harchibald ranged up alongside without the slightest encouragement from jockey Paul Carberry.

When he did finally ask for a winning spurt 50 yards from the line there was no response and Hardy Eustace bravely hung on. Carberry offered the excuse: "If Harchibald hits the front too soon he just stops," but when his sister, Nina, rode a Cheltenham winner later the same day there were suggestions she should offer a few riding lessons to her brother.

In the absence of Best Mate, I suggest you go with the flow in today's Gold Cup. Strong Flow, that is.

Published: 18/03/2005