The Betway ambassador and champion jockey discusses day two of the Cheltenham Festival, including his four rides on King Rasko Grey, Final Demand, Il Etais Temps and Quiryn.
It’s full speed ahead as we head into day two of the festival, and we go there with some good chances once again. It’s an extremely competitive day of racing actually, with some very open contests. But hopefully with a bit of luck, we’ll find ourselves in the winners’ enclosure.
Turners Novices’ Hurdle (13:20)
With Willie having six runners in the Turners (13:20), it wasn’t an easy decision on who to ride, but I just went for King Rasko Grey 15/2 as I thought he was the one open to the most improvement. His third behind Talk The Talk and Ballyfad over two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival was a big run, and there should be even more to come over this longer trip. It’s such a deep race, but I just think King Rasko Grey is lightly raced with plenty of improvement in him, so hopefully I’m on the right one.
Sober is the other interesting one of Willie’s, as he’s such a good flat horse and he won the Moscow Flyer fairly comfortably last time. The worry for him would be in such a big field, if he jumps the first couple as he did in his last few runs, he’s going to make life very hard for himself, but he definitely has the ability to get involved.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (14:00)
It’s then a very competitive renewal of the Brown Advisory (14:00), and we’re hoping Final Demand 11/2 can bounce back from a lacklustre run at Leopardstown last time. I had a sit on him the other day at home, and he felt great, so hopefully he’s ready to leave that run well behind. It wouldn’t be the first time Willie has managed to get a horse to bounce back at Cheltenham after a poor run at the DRF, and his form prior to that is very good, so hopefully we can right the wrong of last year with him.
It’s very interesting that Romeo Coolio heads here after being so impressive over two miles of late, and if he stays the trip then you’d have to be very fearful of him. I thought Kitzbuhel was a big price when you look at some of his form this year, but I suppose it would be a slight worry that this is the third time he’s travelled over since Christmas, but it wouldn’t be a huge shock to me if he ran a big race.
I don’t have a ride in the Handicap Hurdle (14:40), but we have a couple of good chances with Storm Heart 11/2 and Kopek De Mee 11/2 at the head of the market. It would be a slight concern that Storm Heart has so much weight as he’s not the biggest horse, but he’s tough, and I think he has the ability to run a big race. Bunting is probably another of ours just to keep an eye on at an each-way price.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (16:00)
I’m delighted that Il Etais Temps 4/1 has been a little bit of a forgotten horse for the Champion Chase (16:00) as there’s much less pressure on him than some of the others. He’s coming off the back of a fall, which is never ideal in a race like this, but his schooling since has been brilliant and we’ve made sure that that hasn’t left a mark on him.
Majborough was breathtaking at the Dublin Racing Festival, and if he can reproduce that sort of performance again then he’s going to be extremely difficult to beat. I suppose the worry for both Majborough and Il Etais Temps is that they haven’t shown their best form at Cheltenham over fences, but I do think that my lad is the forgotten horse and if Majborough isn’t on a going day then we’ll be there to pick up the pieces.
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (16:40)
Western Diego 16/1 runs in the Grand Annual (16:40) with Brian Hayes on board, and he’s been in good order this year. He might not hold as many secrets from the handicapper as others in the race, but he could run well at an each-way price.
I then conclude the day with Quiryn 15/2 in the Champion Bumper (17:20), and although the stats guys are saying four-year-olds can’t win the Champion Bumper, he was in training as a flat horse, so he isn’t a big raw jumping type of four-year-old. He showed plenty of inexperience the last day, but he was still able to win so impressively, so I think he’ll have learnt plenty from that experience.
He’s a classy horse, which you need to be in a race like this, and he’s given me a lovely feel at home, so I’m really looking forward to riding him.
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