Given that the whole thing started on Twitter, I’m surprised no one posted a gif of Sinead O’Connor’s iconic image, about to shed a tear down her cheek .. it’s been seven hours and 11 days, since you punched Kings Dolly away… and add in a Davy Russell photo for a finale.

For all the hype not even McGregor or Mayweather could land a punch that took the headlines or became as famous as the one thrown at Tramore 11 days ago. Who could have thought that the start of the 6.35 on Friday week could have gained such notoriety.

It’s not even as if it was the silly season and there was no decent racing on last week. The aftermath of the Davy Russell punch-gate took up the first 25 minutes on ATR’s Sunday Forum, and over 11,000 engaged on Twitter with the image posted. York? Oh yea!

RACING PRESS

There appeared to be quite a difference as to how the incident was perceived by the racing press and those more directly involved in the horse industry, and also by those in Ireland as opposed to the UK.

After a week of media “discussion” the Turf Club inquiry surprisingly took no sanctions against the rider, accepting the ‘slap’ of correction would not be repeated. A slap on the wrist for a slap on the neck.

But the issue was not whether Kings Dolly suffered any injury or lasting effects, we know she hardly did.

The previous whip incident - for which Russell did apologise - at Clonmel last year also showed a loss of temper in the course of his professional duty.

Far from using it as a defence, talking his record into account would have been a bit damning in my book rather than an justification to let him off with a caution.

If a professional sportsman loses his temper and strikes or punches on the playing field, sanctions are to be expected. A couple of days ban would have ended the whole thing on Saturday, a week and nearly 10,000 retweets after the event.

Anyone watching the European Show Jumping Championships on Sunday will have seen German rider Phillip Weishaupt lose all chance of a medal when his mount LB Convall spooked and refused the second fence.

By the criteria used in the Russell case, he would have every excuse for hitting the horse to correct him or get his mind on the job, but it would not have looked too good, in a public arena.

Nor would it if other jockeys decide to do the same. Anyone watching At The Races on Monday and the start of the 4.45 would have seen Raising Cain give his rider Adam Short a very hard time before he lined up. He tried the patience even looking at him messing about and refusing to line up but Short persevered. The logical implication from the Russell inquiry is that there’s nothing really wrong in giving a horse a whack over ears to bring it to order.

The loss of temper is one part, perception the other half. We complain about racing not getting enough mainstream media attention but then this is what makes the news. Negative stories engage more than positive ones. Outrage spreads.

Correcting an animal by attempting to thump it with a fist in public simply doesn’t look good and we can do without such negative publicity.

THE (VERY) LAST WORD

There was another incident of a horse approaching a ‘show’ hurdle and doing something daft this year and it was included in the At The Races ’funnies’ played often over the summer months.

Right: Bryan Cooper goes flying at Tipperary

Bryan Cooper presented his mount at the first hurdle at Tipperary, and approaching, like Russell at a trot, the horse preceded to step on the hurdle, fall over it and throw Cooper over its head so that horse and rider ended up sprawled on opposite sides of the practice hurdle.

Cooper was entitled to be annoyed, it looked a most stupid thing for a horse to do. He kept his cool and took no visible action.

And that is the last word on Punch-gate.

TWITTER REACTION