A week may be a long time in politics, but just a day or two clearly represents an age in racing.
As Cheltenham's Open fixture commenced, talk on jump racing's ever-garrulous grapevine was of a rift in the sport's newest big-name partnership.
Having taking over from Tony McCoy as number one jockey to owner David Johnson, and therefore trainer Martin Pipe, it was said that Timmy Murphy and his new bosses were not getting on.
In contrast to the bullish McCoy, Murphy's style is more sympathetic - he nurses his mounts and prefers to reach the lead steadily from the rear of the field.
Such a tactic is regularly effective, making the Irishman, 30, one of the outstanding talents of the age.
But it also leaves him open to taunts that he gets too far behind.
Of the gossip, there is little doubt that there was some truth in the rumours of dissatisfaction with Murphy, though speculation about a split was probably premature.
One newspaper columnist close to Johnson, however, hinted that an arrangement could be reached whereby McCoy - now with JP McManus - might, on occasion, return.
Yet with seven winners at the Open meeting, a total never surpassed in McCoy's day, Murphy silenced his critics, at least temporarily, and also no doubt sent packing the demons that have haunted him for years.
Because this episode is the latest chapter in an eventful career that has been punctuated by success, of course, but also by controversy.
Being sacked from a series of plum jobs was the least of Murphy's worries when he was jailed for indecently assaulting a female flight attendant during a drunken air-rage incident.
 McCoy has been a hard act to follow |
There are no excuses exist for that behaviour, obviously.
But let's be fair: he has acknowledged his alchohol dependency, become tee-total and battled his way back and is now at the top again.
The jockey himself admits his renowned temper is never far from the surface, but being off the booze makes it easier to control.
And I can testify to that, having dealt with him for about 10 years.
He is nicer, much more level and confident than ever before - and the mineral water and the orange juice have not in any way diluted the ability in the saddle.
As Murphy himself says, "There is only one AP McCoy", and further criticism may follow.
But after the Open meeting successes, it should be much more temperate.
MMIX
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