NO JOCKEY can please all the people all of the time. In a sport where every race produces one winner and a great deal of losers, it just isn’t possible. Two incidents at Sandown Park last Saturday, one involving Ruby Walsh and the other myself, demonstrated the difficulties.

In my case, it was a spectator who gave vent to his feelings — not just once but twice. First when I finished third on Made In Japan, and later after a fall from Limerick Leader, the same middle-aged man appeared near the horsewalk, suggesting in loud and abusive manner that it was a shame I had ever come back from injury and high time I handed in my licence.

It was an unpleasant outburst, though not especially unusual. It is just as likely to happen on a quiet Monday at Newton Abbot and is almost always the result of a losing bet and too much drink. Sometimes, when it has happened to me, the same character has been back an hour later, cheering louder than anyone after I’ve ridden a winner.

There is never any gain in arguing with these people, even if there are days when it genuinely gets you down. If I’ve made a mistake that has cost me a race, I will be the first to know and admit it but I’m not sure what this gentleman last Saturday felt I had done wrong on either horse.

Made In Japan is the best novice chaser I ride but he could not give his best on that tacky ground. Don’t give up on him is my advice. As for Limerick Leader, I would do a great deal to avoid taking falls as heavy as that. Sure, he might have won if he had stood up but that is what this sport is all about.

The opinions that are important to me are those of the owner and trainer, which is why Ruby may have felt more stung after John Hales, the owner of Azertyuiop, criticised his tactics in the Tingle Creek Chase.

Ruby responded with dignity, pointing out quite rightly that Mr Hales owns the horse and is fully entitled to his opinion. But when this episode filtered through to the weighing-room, there was a general sense of surprise. None of us felt that Ruby would have altered the result by trying to take on Moscow Flyer any earlier.

No jockey in the land is riding better, or with more confidence, than Ruby right now and I did not think he deserved any public rebuke. In general, I think it’s a shame when owners of high-profile horses cannot simply enjoy the fact that they have something that is the envy of thousands.

Today, I face my own, perennial dilemma over tactics as I get back on Rooster Booster for the first time this season. He is the horse I most look forward to riding but his style of racing does present me with difficult choices that not everyone is going to agree with.

Terry Warner, his owner, has stated that he thinks there are times when we should make the running with Rooster to counter the trend — especially apparent last season — of opponents trying to get him beaten through a dawdling pace. If he suggests I do that in the Bula Hurdle today, then that will be the tactic.

I am hoping, though, that there will be sufficient speed in the race to drop him out, as I’m quite sure he is best when ridden that way. We could have done with a slightly bigger field but it is a competitive race and should be informative. I’ve lost no faith in my horse. He gives every ounce of effort each time he runs and he is showing no signs of his age.

This is almost a re-run of the Cheltenham Saturday I missed last month, when my feature rides would have been Rooster and Monkerhostin. Neither won, as it turned out, but both performed with credit. While Rooster may well start favourite today, Monkerhostin will be just behind Our Vic and Thisthatandtother in the betting for the bonusprint.com Chase, and I think that reflects his chance.

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