Our newest Betway ambassador discusses his three rides in Ireland on Saturday before giving his view on the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Good to be on board
I’m delighted to be joining the Betway team as an ambassador. They have a long-standing presence in racing and a real commitment to the sport. I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you throughout the season, and it’s an exciting time to be involved as we approach the Christmas festivals.
This season has been slow to get going, but we had a good weekend in Punchestown with Lossiemouth in the Morgiana and Gaelic Warrior in the John Durkan at the end of November. It’s well documented that some of the horses have needed a run to get going this year, so hopefully we’re up to full speed coming into Christmas.
Three rides at Thurles on Saturday
There’s some rain due, but Thurles is a course that will take it.
I start with Korinthia / in the Listed Mares Novice Hurdle (12:47). She’s been very consistent in all her runs, it looks a good opportunity for her. She’s got experience now and I think Thurles will suit her. She wasn’t disgraced at Down Royal when she was third in a listed race the last day. She’s the highest rated and we’re looking forward to getting going again. At Ballinrobe she made a good start to jumping and then was third at Down Royal, she brings a good level of form and sets the standard.
My other two rides are each in separate divisions of the Maiden Hurdle – Eliodam / in Division I (13:57) and Boedic / in Division II (14:32). The two horses both ran in the same sales bumper in Fairyhouse at Easter. They’ll have both learnt a lot from that, and it’s a race that throws up winners every year. They were both quite green going here. Boedic finished fourth that day, over 30 lengths ahead of Eliodam in 12th, but I think the two of them have improved a lot for the bumper experience on debut and there wouldn’t be that much between them. I’m looking forward to getting the two of them going.
In comparison to the fancied horses in each race, my two don’t have hurdles experience in the form book but have both jumped hurdles well at home. They’re both in good races, but I guess they’ll be far from the strongest maiden hurdle contests run over the next few weeks. We’ll be hoping they both give good accounts of themselves, they’re two nice horses to look forward to for the rest of the season, anyway.
Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot (14:25) on Saturday
Gordon Elliot’s horses are absolutely flying at the moment at home, and his Honesty Policy / is good and tough. He was a gutsy winner at Aintree in April at the Grand National meeting over two-and-a-half miles and the step up to three miles looks made for him. Another contender is Strong Leader / and I think the race at Newbury’s ‘Hennessey’ meeting probably wasn’t run fast enough for him, when he was beaten by Impose Toi / a few weeks ago. In a stronger run race, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Strong Leader improving past him. Last year’s winner Crambo / will definitely have to find some of his previous best form to get involved there.
Looking forward to Christmas
It’s going to be an exciting Christmas, with lots of big names coming out. I’m really looking forward to a busy period and sharing my thoughts once our plans are made.
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