Public image meets strong conviction in McCririck

Brian O'Connor meets John McCririck, racing's most recognisable face, and finds there's more to the man than big cigars and strong opinions

If it's true that everyone has a face they choose to present to the world, then John McCririck has his public image honed to perfection.

The racket of car horns and shouts as the bewhiskered TV betting guru posed for photos on St Stephen's Green yesterday was noisy proof.

McCririck was in town to put that face to the launch of Supremeodds.com, a fixed odds internet betting operation.

"He is the man we wanted. We didn't want to focus on just horses, and to most people he is betting," said the company's PR exec, glancing appreciatively as McCririck spouted on cue for the latest member of the Irish hack pack.

An English colleague, friendly with the big man, had warned against taking him too much on face value.

"Don't believe half the bluster. He is really quite a deep thinker," he said.

He is not the only one to express such a view but yesterday, McCririck, the ex-public schoolboy and probably racing's most recognisable face, was singing for his supper, and being note perfect too.

Is it hard being so recognisable, John? "It makes going into porno shops and looking at young women with 48-inch breasts a bit difficult, but that's about it!"

I believe you don't like the euro? "I think it is appalling. But I can understand why the Irish like it. It's been a milch cow for you. But I'm a right wing Tory and I don't believe in socialism and the European state. Bismark tried it, and Napoleon, and Hitler!"

And what about Ireland's chances in the World Cup? "If you're going to back Ireland, give it to the local hospice instead. They have no chance, but if you do fancy them, you can get 100 to 1 with Supreme!" The internet alickadoos practically hugged themselves with delight. McCririck leaned back in his chair before plunging a huge cigar, that could have a future in one of those porno flicks, into his mouth.

It was soon out, however, as he launched a blitz on the two per cent betting tax in Ireland.

"It's outrageous and just sheer stupidity from the Government here. Even in Britain, Gordon Brown, from a Scottish Presbyterian background, has abolished tax because he knows it will pay off in the end. If the Irish Government doesn't do the same, betting in this country will be devastated.

"I say to the Government, don't be like the Taliban, living in caves, and telling everyone what to do. It's not right. I know I'm too fat, but does that mean you close every restaurant and pub? Of course not: Get rid of the tax. If you don't want to bet, then don't. But don't take the moral view, and let the rest of us have the choice," he declares.

The convictions are deeply held, and behind the hand-waving dogma, there is clearly a keen mind at work. But the man does provoke extreme emotions.

The leading trainer Mark Johnston described him as: "The Channel Four clown, and if he wasn't controversial, flamboyant, noisy, annoying and the one everyone loves to hate, he wouldn't have a job." McCririck takes such criticism on the chin. But it is worth remembering the 61-year -old was previously an award-winning investigative reporter with the 'Sporting Life in the late 1970s.

"Bad years," he dismisses, having previously described himself as a failed journalist. But he is also dismissive of the idea that he is racing's public face.

"I hope not. Tony McCoy and Frankie Dettori risk their lives out there on the track. I'm just a media person, a bit like the pub bore except I'm paid to talk. It's just a fleeting, transient and temporary thing.

"I know lots of people hate me and think I'm just a fat bore shouting off but no one else works live with the public in the betting ring. The rest are all in studios and gantries and can't feel what is going on.

"I see my job as telling the people at home or in the office what is happening at the moment, the information I would like to know in their situation. Maybe my judgment is wrong sometimes but that's a different issue. At least I am able to give that information," he says.

And that's not a bad face to present to the world either.