54 Monday December 6 2021 | the timesSportRugby union
5Ludlow
Rob Wright
12.30 Garrison Commander 2.30 Golden Taipan
1.00 On The Platform (nb) 3.00 Steinkraus
1.30 Miranda 3.30 Fancy Stuff
2.00 Outonpatrol
Going: good to soft Racing TV
12.30 Claiming Hurdle
(£4,357: 2m) (7 runners)
104060 BILBOA RIVER 19 (H) R J Price 5-11-8 Sean Houlihan (3)
2 0-F00BOLD RED 8 (P,T) D Bridgwater 5-10-12 M Bastyan (3)
3 U6CANAL ROCKS 21 (P) B J Llewellyn 5-10-10 Charlie Price (3)
4 0-403GARRISON COMMANDER 21 (T) Katy Price 5-10-8B Poste
5 PLIBERTY POWER 65 (T) R Bandey 4-10-8 H Bannister
6 3-OVERHAUGH STREET F26 E De Giles 8-10-8 D Bass
7 0-103WHITLOCK 21 (P,D) A Irvine 6-10-8 J Bowen
13-8 Whitlock, 5-2 Overhaugh Street, 5-1 Garrison Commander, 13-2 Liberty
Power, 8-1 Bilboa River, 25-1 Bold Red, 33-1 Canal Rocks.
Rob Wright’s choice: Garrison Commander, third in a seller
at Leicester, can take a poor contest Danger: Whitlock
1.00 Handicap Chase (£4,684: 2m 4f) (13)
1 3FP-4MASSINI MAN 32 J Groucott 8-11-12 J Nailor (3)
2 00-PPHENRI LE BON 12 (B) Kerry Lee 6-11-11 Doubtful
3 433-4AMBION HILL 34 (BF) C Tizzard 6-11-9 B J Powell
4 /06-3HALDON HILL 29 V Dartnall 8-11-7 R McLernon
5 0450-FIDDLERS TRACKER 237 (P) R Curtis 6-11-2 A Wedge
6 FF-40MUSE OF FIRE 32 (T) J Groucott 7-11-0 S Sheppard
7 64-12ON THE PLATFORM 41 J Groucott 5-10-13 L Edwards
8 3-202JOBESGREEN LAD 39 (T) T R George 6-10-12 J J Burke
902051 FAMILY POT 14 (T,C) Sheila Lewis 6-10-12 Sean Houlihan (3)
10 5-540DIAMOND ROSE 159 J S Smith 9-10-7 T Bellamy
11 PP-P0FAMILY MAN 27 Miss S Robinson 8-10-1 C Ring (3)
12 2233-COBRA COMMANDER 260 (W,BF) T Symonds 7-10-0 B Poste
13 /P-PPRIGHT ROYALS DAY 38 (T) T Wall 12-10-0 J Best
4-1 Ambion Hill, 9-2 Haldon Hill, 5-1 On The Platform, Jobesgreen Lad, 6-1
Family Pot, 8-1 Cobra Commander, 10-1 Massini Man, 12-1 Muse Of Fire.Wright choice: On The Platform shaped as though in need
of the run at Bangor Dangers: Ambion Hill, Massini Man1.30 Handicap Hurdle (£9,626: 2m) (8)
1 415-2MIRANDA 37 (CD) P Nicholls 6-11-12 A Cheleda (5)
221115 SEE THE SEA 14 (T,CD) D McCain 7-10-12P J Kavanagh (7)
3 5P4-2WILL VICTORY 31 Dr R Newland 5-10-3S Twiston-Davies
4 0-51PPROGRESSIVE 37 (D) N Henderson 4-10-3 N De Boinville
5 -3102VOICE OF CALM 20 (T,D) E Lavelle 5-10-3 T Bellamy
6 465U0COTTON END 25 (CD) Sheila Lewis 7-10-1 Sean Houlihan (3)
731241 PUFFIN BAY 18 (D) O Sherwood 4-10-0 J J Burke
8 500-2MARTA DES MOTTES 28 T Symonds 4-10-0 B Poste
2-1 Miranda, 7-2 Voice Of Calm, 5-1 See The Sea, 6-1 Progressive, 8-1 Will
Victory, 12-1 Marta Des Mottes, 14-1 Puffin Bay, 20-1 Cotton End.
Wright choice: Miranda, second in a listed race at Wetherby,
can make her class tell Dangers: Voice Of Calm, Puffin Bay2.00 Handicap Chase (£8,768: 3m 2f) (7)
1 01F-1SWITCH HITTER 27 P Nicholls 6-11-12 Bryony Frost
2 -1022FORGOT TO ASK 43 (T,D) T R George 9-11-6 J J Burke
3 50-1PMINELLA ENCORE 23 (B,T) Dr R Newland 9-11-6
S Twiston-Davies
442312 OUTONPATROL 27 (C) A King 7-11-5 T Bellamy
5 363-0BOBO MAC 26 (P,CD) T Symonds 10-11-5 D Noonan
6 40U14REVE 17 (P,BF,CD) M Keighley 7-11-2 J Bowen
7 51P-FSUBCONTINENT 24 (C) V Williams 9-10-9 C Deutsch
9-4 Switch Hitter, 3-1 Outonpatrol, 9-2 Forgot To Ask, 7-1 Minella Encore, 8-1
Reve, 10-1 Subcontinent, 12-1 Bobo Mac.
Wright choice: Outonpatrol was unsuited by a slow early
pace when second at Hereford Danger: Switch Hitter
2.30 Handicap Chase (£7,407: 2m) (4)
1 1FP-0WILD MAX 37 (T) P Nicholls 6-11-8 H Cobden
2 31F02RAYA TIME 46 (D) T R George 8-10-13 T Scudamore
322313 GOLDEN TAIPAN 18 (T,CD) F O'Brien 7-10-8 P Brennan
4 04-44SON OF CAMAS 29 N Henderson 6-10-3 N De Boinville
2-1 Wild Max, 9-4 Golden Taipan, 3-1 Raya Time, 4-1 Son Of Camas.
Wright choice: Golden Taipan won here in October and was
a fair third at Wincanton last time Danger: Wild MaxMusselburgh
Rob Wright
12.15 Thunder Rock 2.15 Bootlegger
12.45 Skycutter 2.45 Upandatit
1.15 First Impression 3.15 Brayhill (nap)
1.45 Gun Merchant
Going: good to soft Racing TV
12.15 NH Novices' Hurdle
(£4,629: 2m 4f) (9)
1 422-1A DISTANT PLACE 35 (D) Jonjo O'Neill 6-11-4
Jonjo O'Neill Jr
2 31-21THUNDER ROCK 23 (D) O Murphy 5-11-4 A P Heskin
3 66-A DAY IN DONOSTIA 241 M & D Easterby 4-10-12 J Hamilton
4 BEBSIDE BANTER C Grant 4-10-12 Sean Quinlan
5 0-40BRANDY MCQUEEN 30 Mrs H Graham 4-10-12 R Mania
6 43-6EVERYDAY CHAMPAGNE 46 N Richards 5-10-12
D McMenamin
7 40-43GARDE DES CHAMPS 150 (T) K Dalgleish 5-10-12B Hughes
8 6-6LORD ROCO 20 J Ewart 5-10-12 A Doyle (7)
9 0-3SONGOFTHELARK 37 (T) L Russell 5-10-12 S Mulqueen
6-4 A Distant Place, 13-8 Thunder Rock, 11-2 Garde Des Champs, 12-1
Everyday Champagne, 16-1 Songofthelark, 25-1 others.
12.45 Juvenile Hurdle
(3-Y-O: £8,845: 2m) (6)
1 1 COLLINGHAM 33 (CD) D McCain 11-3 B Hughes
2 1 SKYCUTTER 12 (D) P Kirby 11-3 T Dowson
3 4 BAMBOO BAY 9 (T) P Kirby 10-12 Sean Quinlan
4 3 BEOWULF 22 M Bell 10-12 T Garner
5 BULLS AYE F75 I Jardine 10-12 C O'Farrell
6 5 OOT MA WAY 9 (P) I Jardine 10-5 N F Houlihan
5-6 Skycutter, 5-2 Collingham, 8-1 Bamboo Bay, 10-1 Beowulf, 20-1 Bulls Aye,
Oot Ma Way.
1.15 Handicap Hurdle
(4-Y-O: £8,496: 2m) (6)
1 515-1FIRST IMPRESSION 23 (D) J J Quinn 11-12 T J O'Brien2 32211 MINELLA PLUS 17 (H,CD) D McCain 11-6 B Hughes
3 24 SPIRITOFTHENORTH 13 K Ryan 10-7 Sean Quinlan
4 22-2UAUDITORIA 20 (BF) O Murphy 10-6 A Coleman
5 36002 MY MACHO MAN 33 (T) M Barnes 10-0 T Willmott (5)
6 0-504LES'S LEGACY 31 S Corbett 10-0 D Hurst (7)
6-4 First Impression, 11-4 Minella Plus, 4-1 Auditoria, 9-2 Spiritofthenorth,
20-1 My Macho Man, 33-1 Les's Legacy.1.45 Handicap Chase (£3,050: 2m 6f) (12)
1 3-525DEQUALL 44 (BF) W Coltherd 5-11-12 S Coltherd
2 210-0DORA DE JANEIRO 20 S G West 8-11-11 J Kington
3 30260 CHESTERVILLE 19 (H) R Menzies 7-11-9 N Moscrop (3)
4 -3106RADDLE AND HUM 32 (H) M Hammond 7-11-6
Miss Becky Smith (3)
5 30P01GUN MERCHANT 18 Mrs A C Hamilton 8-11-1Sean Quinlan
6 U1546HOLME ABBEY 30 N Richards 8-10-13 D McMenamin
7 35F50GRIPPER 37 (B) W Young Jnr 6-10-13 D R Fox
8 33-06LASTOFTHECOSMICS 33 (P,T) I Jardine 6-10-11C O'Farrell
9 -6312PERMISSION GRANTED 18 (P) R Dobbin 9-10-7 Craig Nichol
10 2F554ASHJAN 30 (P) S Forster 8-10-5 E Austin (7)
1165343 ELIXER 25 (P) F Murtagh 8-10-0 T Willmott (5)
12 6F-05SHANBALLY ROSE 75 R Dobbin 7-10-0 D Johnston (7)
11-4 Gun Merchant, 5-1 Permission Granted, 7-1 Dora De Janeiro, 8-1 Holme
Abbey, Dequall, 10-1 Raddle And Hum, Elixer, 12-1 Ashjan.2.15 Handicap Hurdle (£6,862: 3m) (7)
1 20P-4ONE NIGHT IN MILAN 23 K Dalgleish 8-11-12 B Hughes
2 4F-20BIG BAD BEAR 162 (P) N Richards 7-11-6 Sean Quinlan
3 -U322BOOTLEGGER 15 (P,T,BF) T Davidson 8-11-4 K Brogan (3)
4 4-4P5WEATHER FRONT 9 (V) I Jardine 8-10-10 J Gormley
5 2-131WAKOOL 33 (P,CD) N Alexander 5-10-4 D McMenamin
6 34640 PAMMI 20 (P,C,D) J Goldie 6-10-2 H Reed
7 04-50KAIZER 19 Ewan Whillans 6-10-2 C Bewley
6-4 Wakool, 11-4 Bootlegger, 5-1 One Night In Milan, 8-1 Big Bad Bear, 12-1
Pammi, 14-1 Kaizer, 16-1 Weather Front.2.45 Handicap Chase (£4,684: 3m) (6)
1 -6PP5MAGNA SAM 26 (D) Mrs S Leech 7-11-12 A P Heskin
2 35-43UPANDATIT 20 (T) N Alexander 6-11-10 Sean Quinlan3.00 Handicap Hurdle (£4,139: 3m) (12)
130214 STEINKRAUS 27 (BF) D McCain 6-11-13 P J Kavanagh (8)
2 6-000TRIXSTER 17 (T,D) T Vaughan 8-11-12 Charlie Price (3)
3 5-3FPSEEMINGLY SO 40 (P) L Morgan 8-11-12 Mr L Dobb (10)
4 54P41NELSONS ROCK 11 (D) C Tizzard 6-11-7 H Kimber (6)
503240 CHOSEN SHANT 18 (T) I Williams 5-11-4 C Todd (3)
6 33-01CANASTERO 63 P Hobbs 5-11-3 Mr Jack Martin (10)
7 26-65MR KATANGA 19 R Curtis 7-11-3 A Cheleda (3)
8 RP0-FDANNY PARK 25 M Young 5-11-0 J Andrews
9 56-60LIGHTNING GOLD 205 (W,T) L Hurley 6-10-13
Miss H C Tucker (5)
10 P5-50JAUNTY EXPRESS 186 B Eckley 5-10-13 J Tudor
11 0F536STEPHANIE SUNSHINE 34 (T) Katy Price 8-10-2
Sean Houlihan
12 20PU3CHEER'S DELBOY 16 (P) R Dickin 8-10-1 L Murtagh
5-2 Nelsons Rock, 4-1 Canastero, 6-1 Steinkraus, 8-1 Cheer's Delboy, Mr
Katanga, 10-1 Seemingly So, Chosen Shant, 16-1 Stephanie Sunshine, Trixster.
Wright choice: Steinkraus lost a shoe at Hereford last time
and remains unexposed Dangers: Chosen Shant, Canastero3.30 NH Flat Race (£3,268: 2m) (11)
1 5-BENANDGONE 319 B Barr 4-11-0 M Bastyan (3)
2 CHARMING GETAWAY K Bailey 4-11-0 D Bass
3 DOM BOSCO T R George 4-11-0 J J Burke
4 HYLAND N Henderson 4-11-0 N De Boinville
5 NIGHT JET T Symonds 4-11-0 B Poste
6 U2/SAQUON 631 (BF) Dr R Newland 5-11-0S Twiston-Davies
7 0 SUKAT 22 D Bridgwater 4-11-0 B J Powell
8 THIRD STREET N Twiston-Davies 5-11-0 J Nailor (3)
9 1-FANCY STUFF 232 (W) D Skelton 4-10-7 H Skelton
10 0 LADY AMY 38 (H) L Hurley 4-10-7 N Scholfield
11 6 SALLY'S GIRL 208 J S Smith 4-10-7 T Bellamy
5-2 Fancy Stuff, 3-1 Hyland, 5-1 Charming Getaway, 6-1 Saquon, 8-1 Third
Street, 10-1 Dom Bosco, 14-1 Night Jet, 25-1 Sukat.
Wright choice: Fancy Stuff, an Irish point-to-point winner,
looks interesting Dangers: Charming Getaway, HylandBlinkered first time: Ludlow 1.00 Henri Le Bon. 2.00
Minella Encore.L
ong before the consultant
psychiatrist put a proper
medical name on it, Keith
Earls had come up with a
working title of his own.
He had a lodger in his head which
the doctor, on the eve of Earls’s 26th
birthday, diagnosed as bipolar
disorder. Years before, Earls had
christened the lodger “Hank”. It was
inspired by the character of the same
name, the alter ego in Jim Carrey’s
split personality from the Hollywood
actor’s 2000 film Me, Myself & Irene.
The Munster and Ireland rugby star
could identify with Carrey’s
predicament. Some days he was
Keith, other days he was Hank.
Naming the voice in his head after
someone from a daft American
comedy film helped him dress his
daily struggles in a coat of black
humour. But most of the time it
wasn’t funny. A lot of the time he was
in agony.
Earls is 34. In 96 internationals, he
has scored 34 tries, making him the
second-highest tryscorer in Irish
history. He has amassed 59 tries for
Munster in 183 appearances since his
debut in 2007. He started every game
in the 2018 Six Nations campaign,
which culminated in a grand slam for
Ireland.
For most of his career he was seen
but not heard. Shy and quietly spoken
by nature, he never wanted a high
profile. If he had his way, he would
have had no profile. So, when he
decided 12 months ago to commit
himself to a book, it was a quantummainstream audience, many of whom
would never have watched a game of
rugby. His story broke the boundaries
of his sport.
The plaudits have been rolling in on
social media ever since. His radio and
newspaper interviews have generated
fresh ripples of appreciation. He has
been contacted by many people
wanting to thank him because they
have a loved one who is suffering
similarly. Some team-mates have
privately confessed to him that they
too are now seeking professional help
for their problems. These are
precisely the reasons why he
continued with the project when at
times it felt too frightening to go
there. He felt he ought to make a
stand. He felt his success and his
measure of fame gave him a
responsibility to do something good
with it. He had no idea it would
inspire so many.
Last week Fight or Flight: My Life,
My Choices won the Sports Book of
the Year category at the annual Irish
book awards.The irony of being fêted among the
literati is not lost on him. He thinks
he has dyslexia, albeit he has yet to go
for a formal assessment. Either way,
reading and writing were a struggle
for him in school; he thrived at the
manual subjects such as metalwork
and woodwork. One of the first times
he was asked to pen an autograph, he
signed it with “Best Whishes”. He was
mortified when he subsequently
discovered the proper spelling.
The book is not just for grown-ups
who may need a little bit of
inspiration on their journey towards
psychological and emotional wellness.
It is also for teenagers, perhaps boys
in the main, who grapple with their
reading and writing in the classroom
too. He would like them to not feel
shame about it; that they would have
sufficient confidence to put their
hand up and say they need help.
He is already getting requests to
give talks in schools and elsewhere.
He has to emphasise to them that he
is not a professional counsellor or
mental-health worker. He is notHow Keith Earls won
his battle with Hank,
the lodger in his head
Tommy Conlon, who
co-wrote autobiography
that set nation talking,
recalls conversations
with the Ireland wing
leap out of his comfort zone. In telling
his story to this writer, he voiced his
fears more than once about how
vulnerable the process was making
him feel. The nearer we got to the
date of publication in October, the
more exposed and vulnerable he felt.
He had laid himself bare on the page.
He reveals the battle with that
voice which had “polluted” his mind
for two decades. He speaks with deep
affection of his native Moyross, the
troubled public housing estate on the
edge of Limerick city where he grew
up. There, he witnessed acts of
violence that he ought to have been
too young to see, such as a man in
a balaclava standing outside his
front door firing a handgun
at lads running down the
road. One of the bullets
lodged in the engine of
his father’s van.
Another time he
watched from a
bedroom window as
a young man on the
street below was
surrounded and
stabbed repeatedly
by youths. They ran
away; the victim
stumbled away holding
his stomach.
Moyross is in his soul. He
hated the way the good people
of that community were
stigmatised by the crime and
violence, a stigma he carried
with him into the upper-class
milieu of Irish rugby union,
almost as though he were a
fugitive from the underclasses.
On the field he belonged.
Off it, he felt he didn’t. The
black-tie functions in Dublin’s
Shelbourne hotel, for example,
were a trial for this “stray kidfrom Moyross” who was trying to fit
in with the gilded society types. “It’s a
strange thing to say,” he writes, “but
despite the trouble and danger that
was always hanging around Moyross,
I found it far less threatening than a
place as polite and civilised as the
Shelbourne.”
He speaks too of his struggles with
literacy, and how this also sapped his
social confidence in a working
environment that is
disproportionately populated by
alumni from Ireland’s fee-paying
private schools.
To his immense relief, the book
has been received with a tidal
wave of goodwill. In mid-October
he spoke publicly for the first time
about his mental health ordeal,
on The Late Late Show,
Ireland’s most-popular TV
chat show. It was here that a
national audience first
heard of “Hank” and
all his malignant
works. Earls was a
bag of nerves
before the show. He
was racked with fear about
the imminent reaction.
The wing was by no
means the first
sportsperson to open up
about his personal battles
with depression and self-
esteem but for many
viewers it felt like a
groundbreaking moment,
possibly because of Earls’s
palpable humility and
authenticity. Or possibly
because of the respect in
which he was already held.
This was someone who had
operated at the highest
level of a ferociously
aggressive sport, showing
not his macho invincibility
but his humanity. And in
doing so he connected with aFamily life has helped Earls to
overcome some of his turmoil