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I’VE only got the one ride at Sandown today but it doesn’t mean I haven’t got a busy weekend.
Tomorrow I’ll be swapping my tweed cap for a Tam O’Shanter as I’m off up to Scotland for Musselburgh’s big Cheltenham Trials meeting.
There’s plenty of runners going up from the south in search of the better ground. Musselburgh seems to have its own micro-climate so the ground there is usually decent even when there’s been a lot of rain around.
I had my comeback ride at this meeting 12 months ago after missing a big part of the season with an arm injury.
It’s a track that takes a bit knowing. It’s very sharp and things happen quite quickly but it’s good for a couple of better novice hurdlers to have their Cheltenham prep runs on decent ground.
Today I’m on Beat That (3.00) in the big handicap hurdle.
He won Grade 1 novice hurdles at Aintree and Punchestown. That was a few years ago and he didn’t really shine in a stint over fences. But he ran better over hurdles last time at Sandown so I’m hopeful he can build on that.
It’s a competitive race and the handicapper hasn’t exactly been lenient on him over the years but I think he can run his race.
The boss, Nicky Henderson, looks like he could have a decent day.
Buveur D’Air has been working very well as he builds towards the defence of his Champion Hurdle crown. This is a nice stepping stone for him – it comes at the right time.
Terrefort runs in the Scilly Isle Novices’ Chase. I haven’t had much to do with him but I watched Daryl Jacob school him the other day and he was foot-perfect. He looked very good.
His jumping is his asset and around a track like Sandown that’s just what you want.
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Countister is a lovely mare. I won on her at Doncaster and the form has worked out well.
James Bowen should have a nice little spin on Colonial Dreams. He was second to a good horse called Black Op – narrowly beaten at Cheltenham last weekend – at Doncaster.
The mark he’s been given for his handicap debut looks quite lenient and Sandown will definitely be more his track.
James has already won the Welsh National and the Lanzarote Hurdle this year.
He isn’t even old enough to drive yet so I put the gloves and chauffeur’s hat on yesterday to give him a lift to Chepstow.
He works in the yard full-time so he has to muck out in the mornings before going off to the races.
He’s obviously from a big racing family and he’s really grounded. Despite all the recent success he’s still wearing the same size riding helmet.
Like I say I’m off up to Musselburgh tomorrow to ride two lovely young horses.
Claimantakinforgan (2.00) is unbeaten in two hurdle races and I’ve ridden him both times.
We’ve been waiting for the better ground for him since he won at Ascot just before Christmas.
Mr Whipped (2.35) has come out of his win in Warwick’s Leamington Hurdle three weeks ago fresh and well.
The sharp, right-handed track should help him and it’s a very winnable race.
I can report two of our biggest guns are in good order.
Might Bite has just been doing a couple of canters as he works his way up for the Gold Cup.
Altior is also doing everything right. He worked very well yesterday morning having had a school over some fences the previous day.
It would be nice to get a run into him in the Game Spirit at Newbury next week but if the ground isn’t right and he has to go straight to Cheltenham for the Champion Chase it wouldn’t be a problem
February is always an exciting time as horses have their last runs before the Festival. The ground is drying out and the sun is starting to shine.
Finally, it was a shame James Banks couldn’t go out on a winner at Chepstow yesterday. He told me he was calling it a day when I walked into the weighing room and he was second on Arquebusier on his final ride.
I’ve been riding against James since we were amateurs and he’ll be sorely missed – he’s always up for a laugh.