A FEW DAYS OFF: Unfortunately I was sent home yesterday from Racing by the Doctor as I’m quite unwell so I’m being forced to rest at home for a few days. It’s a little frustrating because I only have only a couple of weeks left riding in the UK so I wanted to make the most out of what I have left.
On the other hand, I’ll be able to watch the great racing at Ascot tomorrow with very little interruption but it’s always frustrating when you can’t ride and have to watch everyone else. That’s how it goes though.
Of my rides last week, the most notable was Communicator in the Cesarwitch. He ran really well but just got tired close home and lost a couple of places but he travelled really well up to that and I was really happy with how I was going.
It’s always difficult when you’re drawn so far wide with such a big field but we did well to get a position and though I was far enough back, I was happy with where I was throughout the race. When we were about half down the straight we were still on the bridle and I was thinking that we’d finish very close but inside the last furlong his stamina ran out and a few others simply stayed on better.
Kingstreet Lady also ran a decent race in Wolverhampton on Tuesday. It took her a little longer to kick into full gear than I was expecting but she made up the ground in the straight very easily to finish a strong finishing fourth. She’s definitely one to keep an eye on next time out.
Looking ahead to the weekend, it all depends on how I’m feeling on how much I can ride over the next couple of days but hopefully I’ll make a quick recovery and be back racing next week.
ASCOT SET TO BE FASCINATING RACING
I can’t wait to watch Ascot tomorrow for British Champions Day. It’s a fantastic days racing and it’s a great addition to the calendar to have so many top class races on the one day and so much prize money on offer to attract the overseas runners.
I’m really hoping that the Gleneagles – Solow clash happens. We’ve been waiting a while to see these two run against each other and I’m really looking forward to it, if it happens.
Gleneagles appears to be so ground dependent that it has to be a worry and Aidan O’Brien hasn’t hidden that fact so I would be wary of him on the ground as it is still Good to Soft. The straight course in Ascot is generally a little quicker than the round course as it’s newly drained so that will be in his favour if Aidan decides to run.
Solow has been very impressive in his wins this season and he’s one horse that we have seen can act on this type of ground so with that, I’d have a little more confidence in him and I think he’ll win.
It’s difficult for the older horses because they have to give weight away but I think, on the ground, Solow has the edge.
In the Champion Stakes, there’s another really good match up between Jack Hobbs and Found. I thought 
Found would run a good race in the Arc but they didn’t really go quick enough for her early on and she pulled quite hard. When they got into the straight then she got blocked off a couple of times so things never went right for her.
Even though that race was only 13 days ago, she didn’t have a hard race and I’d expect to run well again.
It’s very hard to look passed Jack Hobbs though. He’s been so good this year and really the only negative for him tomorrow is the draw being out in the stall 12. However, John Gosden has a pacemaker entered and he’s drawn next to him so that will make it a little easier for him to go with the pace and that should help William on Jack Hobbs.
It will be good to see Jack Hobbs and Found coming down the straight going head to head tomorrow and I can’t wait to see it.
Hopefully I’ll be back on next week and be back in full swing again. In the meantime, enjoy the racing.
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