The Betway ambassador previews his rides for the weekend, with the six-year-old his best chance of a win at Ffos Las...
The Flat Jockey’s Championship
It’s been a superb summer for Jim Crowley. He’s broken the record for the number of winners in a single month and that’s down to his amazing work rate. Congratulations to him.
Winning the title meant the world to me and being crowned champion tomorrow will be the biggest day of Jim’s racing career.
I know a thing or two about finishing second – it can make you frustrated and I’m sure fellow Betway ambassador Silvestre De Sousa will be back stronger than ever next year.
Ffos Las – Saturday
Moving the Welsh Champion Hurdle (4.10pm) from February to October looks to be a good decision.
Ffos Las gets very heavy in February. It was tricky getting the support the race deserved, asking trainers to field some of their best horses on that ground in such a busy period. I think it’s better where it is now.
This ground and trip are perfect for Garde La Victoire and it looks the ideal start to his campaign.
Obviously he fell in novice chases on his last two starts before the break, but he seems very well at home and fingers crossed he goes well.
Don’t forget, he was a decent hurdler, winning the Greatwood less than two years ago, and this is the perfect race to kick things off.
It would be nice to get his confidence up and pick up a nice prize too. It will probably be back to chasing after this.
Welsh Shadow could well be improving and we’re giving him weight. He’s at the right end of the handicap and looks the biggest danger.
As for Tommy Silver, the juvenile form hasn’t been put to the test yet and you’d want to see how good that is before supporting him. He’s obviously a nice type and will probably be chasing very soon.
After that I’m on Copper Kay in the maiden hurdle (3.35pm).
Her form post-Christmas didn’t seem to stand up and she wasn’t quite the same mare.
But she’s had a very good summer; schooling well and is in good form. I think wherever she goes she would be hard to beat.
My first ride comes in the juvenile hurdle (2.25pm) with French bumper winner Defi Du Seuil. He has schooled nicely at home and is a very interesting recruit from France.
I’m sure he wasn’t cheap and JP and Philip will be hoping they have a good one here. This looks a very nice place to get him started and he should take plenty of beating.
Tim Vaughan is in really good form at the moment and I ride his Time And Again in the penultimate race (4.45pm).
He ran much better last time out at Worcester, and if he continues to improve he has a great each-way chance.
Flints Legacy was second in a Chepstow bumper back in April and that form looks reasonable. He’s top-rated and stands a very good chance of going one better in the bumper (5.20pm).
I have plenty of good chances across the card, but Copper Kay is the one I’m most confident about.
Kempton – Sunday
Taper Tantrum has shown a good attitude, he jumps well and has strong form on the Flat.
This is a nice Listed novice hurdle (3.05pm) to go for. Kempton is a flat and sharp track, which suits racehorses like him really well.
As for Hargam and My Tent Or Yours in the other Listed contest, there’s only one winner. My Tent Or Yours is definitely the best horse in the race.
There’s no reason why a horse like him shouldn’t challenge in the Champion Hurdle again. When you have a horse of his ability they just need to be fit and healthy to compete at the top.
I expect him to win impressively on Sunday.
My last ride of the weekend is Lough Derg Leader in the novices’ hurdle (5.15pm) for up and coming trainer Tom Lacey.
He won a bumper in Ireland and fingers crossed he can win his first race under rules here. Lacey’s are in good form and he’s a promising young trainer.
Get well soon Sam
Henry Brooke, Bryan Cooper and Sam Twiston Davies have all suffered nasty falls and I wish them all the best on their road to recovery.
It’s very disappointing for Sam just as the season is kicking off.
I texted him this morning and he replied saying he’s in good form, but that he’s getting frustrated. Hopefully he’ll be back soon.
