'I worked him at home and he felt very good,' the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador says in his exclusive column
This is always a busy time of year with Aintree on the horizon, followed by Ayr and then Sandown.
Newbury rides
I’m at Newbury on Saturday where hopefully I’ve got some decent chances.
My first ride is on Ozzie The Oscar (2.00pm), who was an impressive winner at Taunton last time on his first start over hurdles.
You couldn’t knock the performance in any way and he improved dramatically from his first run to second. Hopefully he can continue to progress.
Everything went wrong for Fingal Bay at Cheltenham (2.35pm).
There was a standing start and we were slowly away. He then nearly got brought down so my race was over after that and I pulled him up.
I worked him at home on Wednesday and he felt very good. This is back up to the same trip as the Hennessy and if he can reproduce the form of that run, he’d have an outstanding chance.
He’s the class horse in the race.
He really deserves to win a race this season. His first three runs were excellent and then I don’t think he enjoyed the heavy going at Haydock or Exeter.
We’re trying the tongue strap again – we didn’t really get a chance to find out if it helped at Cheltenham – and we’re putting a pair of cheekpieces on as well.
Art Of Logistics (3.05pm) has his first start for Philip [Hobbs], having moved from Sandra Hughes’ yard in Ireland.
I don’t know too much about him, but I rode him on Wednesday and he schooled nicely. If he can find his old form, he should run well.
Hopefully the change of scenery will have done him good.
I ride Ruby Rambler for Lucy Wadham in the Mares’ Finale (3.40pm). It’s a very competitive race and the handicapper has her as the best in the field. Let’s hope he’s right.
I haven’t ridden her before, but she has some solid form so we go there with a chance.
Jaboltiski (4.15pm) did nothing wrong in his first two starts and was then fourth in the Finale at Chepstow when the ground was very soft.
The ground at Newbury should suit him and he can put in a better performance. He missed the Festival, so is a fresh horse and I’d be hopeful of a good run.
Ascot rides
Daily Mirror chief football writer John Cross appears on the latest episode of the Betway Insider Podcast. Click the below links to listen.
St Saviour (2.35pm) ran last time in the Adonis at Kempton where he made a bad mistake and didn’t really get home.
This is a strong juvenile handicap with Finale winner Adrien Du Pont in there, so it’s going to be very competitive.
Twelve Roses faces just two rivals in the novices’ chase (3.10pm) and on ratings he must have a very good chance.
I haven’t ridden him before but he was fifth in the novices’ handicap on the first day of the Festival, so he certainly has the form in the book.
He’s won over fences and hopefully he can go in again.
Pete The Feat goes for the veterans’ chase (4.20pm). He’s run really well on his last two starts and is in great form. He’s nearly as old as I am so knows his was around the place.
You hope in these veterans races that there’s nothing too well-handicapped and he goes there with a solid chance.
READ: Davy Russell: Road To Riches has big chance but ground a worry
READ: Silvestre de Sousa: Mobsta can go well with Channon team in form
