KEMPTON DOUBLE THE HIGHLIGHT AHEAD OF YORK: It was a good week for me highlighted by a nice double at Kempton on Wednesday evening. I also had some good rides at Newmarket and Pontefract over the weekend.
To ride a double any time is always good and I was delighted to do it for two very good owners and trainers. They are good supporters of mine so it’s always nice to pay them back in some way.
I can’t wait to ride in the Nunthorpe this afternoon while I gear myself up for my big trip to Japan next week. I won the race in 2011 on Margot Did and that was a huge thrill so it would be great to go close again. More about those later in the column.
SPIRIT RAISER COULD MAKE LISTED CLASS
Miss Blondell opened my account on Wednesday at Kempton. She was quite well fancied beforehand and you’d have to say that she won quite well.
She was actually still quite green throughout but she will improve for that and she’s not the finished article by any means.
Spirit Raiser is a horse that I really like. I’ve ridden her a lot at home and she’s been going really well. I keep thinking that she shouldn’t be rated 85 so there’s plenty of improvement to be seen in her.
It was the first time we put a visor on and they got her competitive again. She won well and there is a Final at Kempton, for the Series that she won the other day, in about two weeks so that could be ideal for her.
If she doesn’t go back to Kempton, I think she’d worth stepping up to Listed Class because I think she’s up to that standard. Her owner, Lord Vesty, has been very good to me over the years and it would be great for him and for the horse to get a Listed win because it gives her ‘Black Type’ which is so important for breeding purposes.
Lord Vesty has had the whole family and James (Fanshawe) has trained them all as well so I think they
would be keen to step her up. It would mean a lot to them to get ‘Black Type’ so I hope she makes it for the connections.
I was happy with how Di’s Gift ran in Pontefract on Sunday finishing second. He was probably just run out of it by the winner who may have seen out the trip a little better. Two miles and a furlong takes a lot of stamina on the flat and it may have just been a furlong or so too far.
He’s knocking on the door and I still believe that there’s a win in him. Maybe a slight step back in trip will help next time.
On Saturday at Newmarket, I was disappointed not to get up on Dawn’s Early Light in the big race. Nothing really went right for him on the day as he could have done with a stronger gallop. By the time of his race, the rain had gotten into the ground a little and it just wasn’t quite quick enough for him. He needs really quick ground to be most effective. He managed in the ground on Saturday but he’s just not quite as effective on it.
He’s got a big race up his sleeve at some point though but he needs fast ground and a strong early gallop.
Another one I rode for Tom Dascombe in Newmarket was Executive Bay in the Maiden. He wasn’t beaten that far in the finish even though he was fifth. He’ll definitely step up from that run, he was a bit green on Saturday but he should improve. I might not be the one riding him as Richard Kingscote is the stable Jockey there, but he’s worth noting for future races.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NUNTHORPE
Today, I have two rides in York including one on Justice Day in the big race.
It’s great to get a big race ride like one in the Nunthorpe. It’s a really good race this and although Justice Day is up against it, I’ll be hoping for the best.
He’s a huge price but with the ground being slower that will be a big help. We’re also drawn well in stall
15 and there is sure to be a stronger gallop today than there was in the Shergar Cup. I wouldn’t totally 
rule him out, it is a step up for him but he’s hardy and everything is in his favour today.
I’ll be very interested to see how Acapulco runs today. She’s got such a big weight allowance (24lbs), she’s probably rightly favourite for the race, especially for a horse that is so physically forward as she is. It’s not unknown for a 2 Year Old to win it and if a juvenile is going to win against older horses, this is the right one to win.
The other big race today is the Lonsdale Cup and I really like Big Orange in that. He won well at Goodwood the last day in the Goodwood Cup and I think York will really suit him.
WATCH OUT FOR THE HELMET CAM ON C4
Before that, I ride King’s Bayonnet in the first race for Alan King. He’s on a high mark and he’s a hold up horse so with there being such a big field, we need everything to go in his favour.
One thing to keep an eye on in that race is that I’ll be wearing a helmet cam for Channel 4. With him being dropped out it should give a really good everyone a really good view of the race.
Funny story about the helmet cam is that the last time I had one on was at Chester and I fell off at the start!
They showed the footage the following day on The Morning Line and it was a bit embarrassing but hopefully I’ll have better luck this time!
The ironic thing is that the horse I was riding that day was Roudee and I ride him tomorrow at Chester in the first race which is sponsored by BETDAQ!
I’ve got a wide draw tomorrow but the ground is key to him, he really wants it good or softer. Roudee is 
a course and distance which is really important in a lot of places but especially around Chester because it’s such a tight track and I’m really hoping he goes close in that race.
The same for Banzari in the Listed Handicap, she wants a bit of the juice in the ground. I rode work on her at home a few days ago and she went really well and she looks great so I’m looking forward to her a lot.
I haven’t got a good draw on Clockmaker in the 3.30 tomorrow which is a seven furlong handicap. I’m going from stall 17 of 17 which is far from ideal and I’m going to need an awful lot of luck in running. She ran well at Chester before though but we haven’t been lucky with the draw this time.
My last ride tomorrow is on Rowlestone Lass for Richard Price. She’s another with some course form and we’ve faired a bit better with the draw on her so she’s another that I’m looking forward to riding.
GETTING SET FOR JAPAN NEXT WEEK
Next Thursday morning I make the long flight to Japan for the World All Star Jockey’s Competition. I can’t wait to get over there as it should be a memorable weekend and it’s a privilege to be part of it.
The draw for the horses is taking place on Wednesday so before I go next Thursday, I’ll be able to fill you on what I’m riding. Fingers crossed I get some good horses for it!
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