Foley makes blistering attack on Swan in new Danoli book

Charlie Swan has described as "regrettable" the blistering attack made on him by Danoli's trainer Tom Foley in a new book, Danoli - The People's Champion.

In the book Foley says he told Swan, when informed by the champion jockey that he would not be able to switch from an Aidan O'Brien horse to ride Danoli in his chase debut at Clonmel last year, that both he and O'Brien were "a shower of bollixes. You're not sportsmen at all."

Foley continues: "I had been hoping that with the success Danoli had given Charlie over the years, he'd have got off Consharon and ridden Danoli for that reason alone. Charlie is now saying he didn't want to disappoint the owners and that it wouldn't have looked good if he'd switched and Consharon won. If that's what he meant why did he get off Theatreworld in the Champion Hurdle to ride I'm Supposin'? It doesn't add up."

Foley adds that he is not anti-Charlie Swan but comments: "I won't pretend we're the best of friends either."

Yesterday, Swan said: "I have no quarrel with Tom and he's entitled to his opinion but I'm saddened by the way that this has come out. He probably spoke before he thought about it. I've often said things I haven't meant in the heat of the moment and been quoted.

"He says I got off Theatreworld but there's a big difference between a novice chase at Clonmel and the Champion Hurdle. I'd switched from Theatreworld two weeks beforehand, not at declaration time. A jockey has to be loyal at some stage in this game and while I'm sure Consharon's owner wouldn't have objected to me switching, I felt I couldn't do it, especially since I couldn't find him on the day. It had nothing to do with Aidan (O'Brien) who had told me I could get off. Swan emphasised he was not annoyed by Foley's comments and said he would love to ride for the trainer again when available.