{"id":214138,"date":"2023-09-08T18:47:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T18:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/?p=214138"},"modified":"2023-09-08T18:47:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T18:47:19","slug":"its-been-a-tough-year-for-charlie-appleby-and-godolphin-and-the-future-isnt-overly-bright-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/sport\/its-been-a-tough-year-for-charlie-appleby-and-godolphin-and-the-future-isnt-overly-bright-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"It's been a tough year for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin – and the future isn't overly bright | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

EVER get the feeling the walls are closing in around you?<\/p>\n

No, not because of crumbling concrete, like in our schools and hospitals, but pressure at work or in your everyday life.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s never a pleasant sensation when you\u2019re under the cosh, and even champion trainers aren\u2019t immune to the weight of expectation.<\/p>\n

Especially when the decline in Charlie Appleby and Godolphin\u2019s fortunes has been one of the most rapid and alarming in the recent history of the sport.<\/p>\n

Last year, cheerful Charlie powered to the trainers\u2019 title with 152 winners and over \u00a36.25 million in prize-money – he\u2019s not getting anywhere near those numbers this time around.<\/p>\n

I'm not asking you to get the violin out for him and his boss, the guv\u2019nor of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

OFFERS OF THE DAY <\/h3>\n

Tote: Bet \u00a35 Get \u00a320 in Free Bets<\/strong> – CLAIM HERE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Virgin Bet: Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a320 in free bets – CLAIM HERE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Betfair<\/strong>: Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a330 in Free Bets<\/strong> – CLAIM HERE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paddy Power: Bet \u00a320 and get it back as Cash if it Loses<\/strong> – CLAIM HERE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sky Bet: Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a330 in Free Horse Racing Bets<\/strong> <\/strong>– CLAIM HERE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of \u00a35 and win or lose you will receive \u00a320 Tote Credit. \u00a320 Tote Credit rewarded as \u00a310 redeemable against racing bets only and \u00a310 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org<\/u><\/p>\n

Virgin Bet: New members. \u00a310 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E\/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable \u00a310 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E\/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ begambleaware.org<\/u><\/p>\n

Betfair: New Customer offer. Place a min \u00a310 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1\/2 (1.5), get \u00a330 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org<\/p>\n

Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is \u00a320. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a \u00a310 free bet when you place 5x bets of \u00a310+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org<\/p>\n

Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E\/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1\/1 OR GREATER. 3 X \u00a310 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org<\/p>\n

I don't think they'll be waiting in line at the Newmarket soup kitchen anytime soon.<\/p>\n

But, out of nowhere, the Godolphin fun bus has turned into a clown car, the doors and wheels falling off as it has barrelled over the edge of a cliff.<\/p>\n

On the surface Appleby appears calm about the situation.<\/p>\n

In fairness, when you consider where he came from, it'll probably take more than one bad season to make him lose sleep.<\/p>\n

You see, when he started out he was quite literally shovelling s***, and no doubt taking plenty of it as well.<\/p>\n

He would get blisters from his fake Gucci loafers and worked ungodly hours travelling runners up and down the country.<\/p>\n

He was given a crack at the top job in 2013 after the shameful Mahmood Al Zarooni doping scandal – and over the last few years his results have been spectacular.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not bad for a bloke with humble roots in a sport where, apparently, key qualifications to become a Flat trainer these days include a quadruple-barrelled middle name and parents who went to Eton.<\/p>\n

But there is no denying Appleby has had a rotten time of it by his own high standards.<\/p>\n

Most read in Horse Racing<\/h2>\n

<\/picture>‘ONE OF THE BEST’ <\/span><\/p>\n

Racing punter rinses bookies as tiny \u00a36 bet secures MASSIVE payout<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>TEMPLEGATE’S TIPS <\/span><\/p>\n

My 7-2 NAP is an improving handicapper who has a big chance at Newcastle<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>FIVER FLUTTER <\/span><\/p>\n

Bash the bookies with these longshots including massive 60-1 Haydock double<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>THAT’S ALL FOLKS <\/span><\/p>\n

‘Spooky’ abandoned racecourse bought for \u00a325m left to rot in haunting pics<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

He has won just ONE Group 1 this season – and it was a pony renewal of the Lockinge at that.<\/p>\n

And, incredibly, his runners drew a blank at the Derby meeting, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and York's Ebor Festival. That's unheard of.<\/p>\n

The likes of Adayar, Hurricane Lane, Modern Games and Native Trail have all been retired, leaving the older horse cupboard virtually bare.<\/p>\n

And the most worrying thing of all for Appleby? The future isn't looking obviously bright.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not dissimilar to the situation at my beloved Chelsea – lots of expensively assembled youth, but are they actually any good?<\/p>\n

On the face of it, his two-year-old's look well below-par, even allowing for Aablan\u2019s win in the Solario Stakes last weekend.<\/p>\n

Never has a trainer so badly needed one of his youngsters to show signs of life.<\/p>\n

At least Aablan did that, for all he looks a bit of a headcase and only just scrambled home from a 22-1 shot.<\/p>\n

For years, they\u2019ve relied on big daddy Dubawi to keep the conveyor belt of stars coming thick and fast from Dalham Hall Stud.<\/p>\n

But he's an old boy now at 21 – I don't care how virile you think you are, getting your leg over three times a day for 18-straight years would leave anyone cream-crackered.<\/p>\n

Blue Point has made a promising start to his stud career and Night Of Thunder is rock-solid, but the rest of their stallion roster are unproven or just a bit, meh.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sadly for Godolphin, super stallions like\u00a0Dubawi\u00a0don\u2019t grow on trees and he can't have too much left in the tank, so they're going to have to increasingly rely on bloodlines from 'outside the family'.<\/p>\n

Fact is, it doesn\u2019t matter how much credit you've got in the bank, if you work for Sheikh Mo you constantly run the risk of him giving you the cold shoulder.<\/p>\n

Just ask Saeed bin Suroor – the four-time champion trainer who fell badly out of favour after a quiet run of form.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The big boss will soon be in town for the October sales in Newmarket, and I\u00a0expect the Godolphin yearly review will be about as comfortable as kidney stones for Appleby.<\/p>\n

Read More on The Sun<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

X Factor ‘wild child’ Frankie Cocozza unrecognisable as he goes topless by beach<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

GP reveals how often the average person farts <\/h3>\n

These are treacherous times for him with plenty of young up-and-comers circling in the water ready to strike at the first hint of blood.<\/p>\n

He is more than capable of righting the ship, but he can't waste any time getting back on course.<\/p>\n

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS<\/h4>\n

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org<\/h4>\n

Remember to gamble responsibly<\/h2>\n

A responsible gambler is someone who:<\/strong><\/p>\n