The Betway ambassador and seven-time Irish champion jockey discusses his book of rides for Saturday, which includes Blood Destiny and Bon Viveur.
The early mornings are getting a bit darker and a bit colder, which isn’t welcome by most I know, but for those of us involved in National Hunt racing, it’s an incredibly exciting time of year.
The good winter horses you’ve been looking forward to all summer are slowly stepping up in their work at home, and you just have your fingers crossed that everything goes to plan as we work towards getting them back to the track.
A few of our nice ones return this Saturday at Gowran Park, and it looks a really good card that could throw up plenty of clues for the months ahead.
It’s a fascinating clash between Gaucher 9/4 and El Cairos in the opening race on the card (13:20), but my lad has been in unbelievable form on the Flat during the summer. He’s a hard horse to place because he’s probably not quite at that top level over hurdles, and he’s not the biggest either, so it’s not easy for him when he’s asked to shoulder those big weights in competitive handicaps. He does have to give weight away here, but this is his sort of level and he arrives in brilliant form.
He’s certainly achieved the most in the race, but El Cairos is undoubtedly the one with the potential to be a good bit better than he’s shown, so giving him 7lb won’t be easy. He possibly hasn’t quite fulfilled his potential yet, El Cairos, but this smaller field might just help with regard to his jumping, and I’m sure everyone at Gordon’s will be hoping he can really kick on this season.
It’s incredible that Gaucher is only seven, because it feels like he’s been around forever at home, but he’s been there and done it, and based on some of his Flat form of late, he could be the one they all have to beat.
Witches Familiar 8/15 (13:55) is a filly I’m really excited about this year, and she’s impressed me both times I’ve ridden her on the track. She impresses me whenever I sit on her at home too. She’s a handy, light-framed type of filly, and she wouldn’t knock your eye out at home, but there’s definitely an engine there, and they come in all shapes and sizes, I suppose.
It’s probably fair to say, without insulting anybody, that they haven’t been the strongest races she’s won, but visually she’s been very impressive, and although we’re 4lb worse off with Mino Des Mottes this time, I’d be hopeful we can confirm that form with him.
Switch From Diesel is an admirable, consistent performer who you’d have to respect, but I’m hoping Witches Familiar can really kick on this year because she seems to be going the right way and, as I say, she’s one I’m looking forward to this winter.
The Grade 2 PWC Danoli Chase (15:05) looks a tidy little race, but Blood Destiny 5/4 arrives there with race fitness on his side over Fleur In The Park, so hopefully that will give us the edge.
Blood Destiny falls into the same bracket as Gaucher in that he’s probably not right at the top Grade 1 level, but he’s a quality horse capable of mixing it in Grade 2 and Grade 3 contests. He surprised me with how well he won at Galway two starts ago, but consistency wouldn’t be his strong suit, and he put in a poor effort back there over hurdles last time. Although he won there two starts ago, I wouldn’t say Galway would be his track, and he might just find this more his cup of tea.
Fleur In The Park is a horse with plenty of potential over fences, but he does have to make the step into open company after a break, so that won’t be easy. Senecia is a horse I’d always respect too, and Vincent Halley always places him quite well. We are the highest-rated in there though, and both Fleur In The Park and Senecia are giving us a bit of weight, so hopefully we’ll go close if Blood Destiny is on a going day.
Fou De Toi 7/4 really disappointed us over hurdles, but he’s taken to chasing very well, so hopefully he can show even more improvement in this novice chase (16:15). I thought the cheekpieces really helped him last time, and he’s a horse going the right way, so there should be more to come.
I suppose my worry is that he’s taking on a much better quality of horse here, and I can’t forget those disappointments over hurdles. Quantum Quest, Blue Mosque and Ma Jacks Hill all bring plenty of potential to this race, so although there should be more to come from my lad, I’d say I’m hopeful rather than confident.
My final ride of the day, and one I’m looking forward to, is Bon Viveur 11/4 in the Beginners’ Chase (16:50). He’s a big chasing type, so he surprised us a bit when he won over hurdles at Thurles two starts ago, then he came down behind King Rasko Grey in the Grade 1 at Punchestown. Willie has wasted no time sending him chasing, so hopefully he’s a horse who can really kick on over fences this year.
There are quite a few in there that bring some good hurdles form to chasing, but they are all having their first run of the season, as are we, so it’s hard to weigh up how forward they’ll be for this. Bon Viveur has schooled well and has had an away day, so hopefully he’s ready to go for this seasonal debut. He looks a big staying type for fences, so I’d say whatever he does this weekend, he could be one to look forward to in the future.
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