HOPING FOR A BIG WIN TOMORROW: It’s been a little frustrating this week as I haven’t had a winner but I’ve had some nice rides including two yesterday at Chelmsford. I also had a really good spin on Kasbah over at The Curragh last Sunday as well.
Looking ahead to the weekend, I’ve got a really good ride tomorrow at Ayr on Shaden before heading to the Newmarket Open Day on Sunday. I’ll tell you more about that a little later.
DON’T LOSE FAITH IN DUSTY
Last night at Chelmsford, A Little Bit Dusty ran a good race to finish third in a Handicap. It’s a little difficult at the moment for him because there are always a few unexposed younger horses to contend with. Last night he was beaten by two 3 Year Olds who are both progressive types and they are hard ones to beat.
Don’t lose faith in him and he’s definitely one to follow for the Winter when there might not be as many that well handicapped.
The other one that gave me a good feel was Bella Blur for Michael Bell. It was her first time and it took her quite a while to get onto an even keel as she was quite green early on. It can be a little unsettling for younger horses at Chelmsford sometimes as there can be quite a lot of kick-back from the surface and this really put my one off a good bit last night.
I was nearly last on her at one stage but then she quickened up well to run on in the straight so she’s one to keep an eye on in time.
Last Sunday I travelled over to Ireland for two rides with one being for Shaden’s owners who I ride a lot for. Their horse, Kasbah, ran a blinder but on the ground over 6 furlongs, he was just a little stretched and I suggested after that dropping back to five furlongs might be the answer.
That was his first time running with a visor on and he travelled really strongly but just got tired late on. Three out, I thought I was going to win so that will show how strongly he was going. He’s certainly one to keep on the shortlist if he comes back to five furlongs.
HOPING FOR BLACK TYPE WITH SHADEN
Tomorrow I make the long trip to Scotland to ride at Ayr on Gold Cup day but the one that I’m really looking forward to riding is Shaden for Lady Cecil in the Group 3 Firth of Clyde stakes.
I was suspended when she ran the last day at Bath and she wasn’t beaten too far when not getting a clear run through. Jamie Spencer rode her that day but she was very impressive the time before when winning a Nursery at Ffos Las and I’m looking forward to another big run from her.
I’m really pleased that the ground hasn’t gotten soft there and she deserves to take her chance. It’s the time of year when a lot of trainers and owners are trying to get a Black Type win so Shaden’s in there to win.
Unfortunately I don’t have a ride in the Gold Cup, but I have a ride for Tom Dascombe in the Silver Cup on Hillbilly Boy. I haven’t ridden him before and I don’t know a whole lot about him but I’d be hopeful he can run a big race.
He’s had a couple of wins last season which pushed him right up in the Handicap and after two good thirds this season, one behind Richard Pankhurst, he’s stayed up in the mid 90’s. Tom only has two runners tomorrow in Ayr, Hillbilly Boy and Roudee so I hope he’s not making the long trip for no reason!
The Gold Cup itself is always a tricky race and Don’t Touch is a worthy favourite. I finished second to him on Ghalib in Wolverhampton in July and he always had me well held even though he didn’t win by far. It was the same again at Ripon and I was quite impressed with him that day.
Roger Varian runs Toofi, another for Sheikh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar. He runs tomorrow in a visor for the first time and I think that will really help him concentrate during the race. He’s never beaten too far in any of his runs and he’s run in some really good races. If the visor works, he could run a big race.
Cathy Gannon rides Dinkum Diamond and although he’s a big race the race might suit him nicely. Quite a lot of the time in these big handicaps they go off far too quick early on and if she can get him settled out the back, she may be able to slip through the field nicely and run into a place.
REALLY UNFORTUNATE FOR ANDREA
The stewards have come in for a lot of stick this week after what happened in the St Leger last Saturday. In general, I think that we have the best set of rules in the UK but last weekend, generally the most obvious winner, keeps the race, but I think they got it wrong on this occasion.
I really believe that the best horse won on the day and I don’t think that they deserved to lose the race for the interference that was caused.
Fair enough, I don’t think Andrea should have barged his way through at the three furlong pole but his horse was travelling so well and she did really well to keep going even with the bump that she gave the other horse. I think if Bondi Beach had been going well enough, he should have been able to hold his place and keep Simple Verse in the pocket.
To me, the best horse won the race on the day but we’ll see what happens with their appeal next week.
SHOW JUMPING AT NEWMARKET OPEN DAY ON SUNDAY
The annual Newmarket Open Day is on this weekend and as part of all that is going on, I’m taking part in a Show Jumping event with several other jockeys and trainers based in the area. It was originally to be Jockey’s v Trainers but that format has been changed slightly and now we’re mixed together.
I’m really looking forward to it as it should be a lot of fun and it’s for some good causes with the Racing Welfare, The Emergency Medical Charity and the National Horse Racing museum.
When I was younger I did quite a lot of Show Jumping, not to a very high level though as we never had a good enough horse or pony at the time. I also took part in a Jump Jockey’s v Flat Jockey’s competition at the Olympia Horse Show last December and that was a lot of fun so I’m looking forward to Sunday and getting back in the ring.
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