'If there’s no pace we can make the running,' says the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador in his exclusive column
The ground is pretty horrible everywhere at the moment, but Kempton is normally better than most places and I’ve got six rides there on Saturday.
I team up with Mark Pitman for the first time in a very long time in the opener with Golden Gate Bridge (12.15pm).
He’s won two bumpers and has shown that he can handle very soft ground so that’s definitely a bonus.
It can be hard for horses coming off the flat when conditions are like they are, so hopefully we’ve got a good chance.
He ran in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day so he must have come out of that race well and I’m sure he’ll have been well schooled.
Tapaculo (1.25pm) has won his last two in testing conditions.
He’s by Kayf Tara so the ground won’t be a problem at all. Although he has a double penalty to contend with, the step up to three miles will suit.
He’s a lovely prospect for the future, especially when he goes chasing.
Wishfull Thinking (2.00pm) really doesn’t need any introduction. He started off in great form this season at Aintree. Yes, he was disappointing in the Peterborough Chase, but it was very windy at Huntingdon that day and he struggled to breathe.
The small field should suit and if there’s no pace we can make the running. On ratings he’s the one to beat.
I know we would have finished behind Ptit Zig if he hadn’t fallen last time, but there’s reason to hope Wishfull will be a better horse on Saturday. He’s my best chance of a winner.
The Lanzarote (2.35pm) is always a very competitive affair, but I’m looking forward to getting back on Brother Tedd again.
He’s a horse who has kept improving throughout his career. He did well to beat Silviniaco Conti over hurdles here first time up and he then ran well at Ascot.
Perhaps we got racing a bit too soon that day and Rock On Ruby outstayed us.
Brother Tedd is unbeaten in three starts at Kempton so he clearly likes a flat track. The handicapper has had his say, but hopefully he still has a decent chance.
We’d prefer slightly better ground but there’s nothing we can do about that.
Bivouac and Ibis Du Rheu look to be the two in the field who are open to improvement.
I don’t know too much about Kruzhlinin (3.10pm) who has his first start for Philip [Hobbs]. He hasn’t run for nearly a year, so I’m sure he’ll come on for it, but he has the potential to be a nice staying chaser.
Dormouse is a grand old servant who has won his last two races, so it’s probably the wrong time to get on him(!).
It’s a competitive handicap, but he copes with the ground so isn’t without a chance.
Welsh Grand National
The ground is going to be absolutely bottomless at Chepstow.
Woodford County will definitely stay and just keep on going. He’s probably the best chance of Philip’s three, and with the yard in such fine form he must have decent each-way claims.
Of the others, Mountainous will love the ground. He’s got a light weight and obviously has excellent form at Chepstow.
This race always ends up a slog, so you need a horse who can handle atrocious conditions. He fits the bill.
Upswing is unexposed but I know Jonjo [O’Neill] is worried about the ground.
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