TAKING A LOOK AT THE JUMPS: It’s been a fairly quiet week this week and with not much Flat racing on, I’ve been watching the Jump racing. It’s been really enjoyable and I’m looking forward to seeing some good races at Sandown tomorrow.
I won’t say that I’m a Jumps expert but I follow it regularly and I can relate to the tracks very easily because I know them so well. There are a lot of similarities between many of the Jump and Flat tracks around the country so having ridden at so many of them, I know their intricacies.
HAVING A BET ON THE TINGLE CREEK
The Tingle Creek should be a really good race, I’m really looking forward to it. It looks like a race that is set up for a second season horse over fences and is won quite a lot by six and seven year olds.
Somersby is an interesting runner despite getting on in years. He’s run well around there before and he won the Henry VIII Novices Chase a few years ago as well. Nina Carberry is coming over to ride and that makes it a little more interesting. I think she’ll suit him and I think he’ll run another solid but I think he could be just passed his best to be winning a race like this.
The same for Sire De Grugy. He didn’t look like the same horse at all last time out at Exeter. He stumbled last time and there were excuses but he just didn’t seem like he the same spark as other years.
Paul Nicholls’s comments about Vibrato Valtat’s last win must not be taken lightly. He reckons that he’s a much stronger horse this year than he was last season and he did win very well at Exeter. The form of that race hasn’t worked out well but considering what his trainer says, he has to have a chance. He’s also had a bit of a break since his last but he can be a bit of a bridle horse though so that has to be a question mark.
I think Simonsig is the one to beat though and now that I’m allowed have a bet, I’ll be backing him on BETDAQ. His last run at Aintree was very considering he was off for so long and he was very fresh early on with very little pace. Bobs Worth looked like he simply outstayed him that day, Simonsig was absolutely cantering to the last day and emptied out.
Dropping back in trip tomorrow should help him settle and with Special Tiara likely to go off at a really strong pace, that will also be in his favour. You also have to take note that Barry Geraghty isn’t riding a JP McManus horse so that he can ride Simonsig so that is also a massive positive. This race just looks perfect for him.
The other big race tomorrow is the Henry VIII Novice’s Chase. There are two that I really want to see, Bristol De Mai and As De Mee.
Bristol De Mai won well last time but he’s a very forward going horse and I think that Sandown is probably a bit more of a test than at Warwick. It’s a much stiffer test and he could be susceptible to self destruct around there. He also might want the ground a bit softer as well. There are a few other front runners in the race so that won’t be entirely in his favour either.
Paul Nicholls has won this race for the last two years and As De Mee looks like he’s definitely better going right handed. His two wins here were at Sandown and Leicester and they are quite similar tracks. He just seems to favour those tracks and he could have more to come back at Sandown.
BIG RACING IN HONG KONG THIS WEEKEND
The final big flat meeting of the year takes place in Hong Kong this weekend with the Hong Kong Cup meeting and there is plenty of European interest in it.
Toormore runs for Richard Hannon and Godolphin and he should have a big shout in the Mile. The quick ground should be in his favour and he’s well used to travelling around Europe. It’s notable that James Doyle is travelling over to ride him so hopefully he’ll run well. Mondialiste also runs for David O’Meara. There are a few very good local runners with the likes of Able Friend so it should be a very good race.
There are also a few Irish runners with Dermot Weld’s Free Eagle in the Hong Kong Cup and he should have a huge chance. We spoke about him before and he was quite unlucky in the Irish Champion Stakes. This would be a great way for him to sign off his career and the race looks well suited for him.
Highland Reel should also have a chance in the Hong Kong Vase, the first big race on the card. Sole Power also runs in the Sprint but he’s been unlucky in the race previously.
LESTERS NOMINATIONS
It was great to received a couple of nominations for the Lesters Awards which take place just before Christmas. I’ve been nominated for a Special Recognition Award for the Flat and also Lady Jockey of the Year.
The Lesters are always a great night and they’re very important because the winners are voted for by the other jockeys. It’s always great to get a nomination and it’s a honour to win one considering that you are picked by your peers.
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