'I’m happy if he wins by half a length every time he runs,' says the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador in his exclusive column
I was really pleased to be top jockey at the Open meeting for the second year in a row and thanks to Boodles who sponsored it.
My wife was a bit disappointed she didn’t get any jewellery, though!
Weekend rides
Garde La Victoire got the job done in the Arkle Trial and I felt that he had improved from Uttoxeter.
His jumping can still get better, but he did it well despite conditions being against him.
He’s a tough horse, he takes his racing well and I’m happy if he wins by half a length every time he runs.
We’ll stick to two miles for now, but he does stay two and a half, so we’ll see where we are later in the season.
A fast-run two miles is probably perfect for him, though, as he has a good cruising speed.
I wouldn’t knock the form. Even though there were only four runners, they were all decent horses.
It was disappointing what happened with Drumlee Sunset at the start of the Supreme Novices’ Trial.
Cheltenham is a wide track where the tapes go straight up rather than across and sometimes young horses can get a bit spooked.
To be fair, it’s safer to have the tapes like that and it’s just one of those things. He ran at Cheltenham last month and they didn’t bother him at all.
We were hoping he’d run a big race and we would have found out more about him. He should be out in the next couple of weeks.
I was really impressed with Copper Kay in the mares’ bumper on Saturday, she’s well above average for a mare.
We’ve always thought she was a bit special and we have to decide if we stay in bumpers or go over hurdles. She’s a very nice horse to have around.
There’s plenty to look forward to with Sausalito Sunrise after his gutsy win in the staying handicap.
It was hard to quantify where he was after Chepstow. I still think he lost his confidence after that fall in the Feltham at Kempton last Christmas.
He’s only a young horse and there’s more improvement to come.
We’ll have a think about the Hennessy, but it’s only two weeks away so we might wait a little longer.
He’s a stayer, but doesn’t really want the ground too soft which would be a worry in the Welsh National.
Other high-profile horses
Like everyone else in racing, I was thrilled to see Sprinter Sacre back to something like his best in the Shloer Chase.
The way he travelled and jumped, he certainly had more zest about him.
Nicky Henderson and his team have been very patient with him and felt he was back to his old self.
I must admit there were a few of us who thought his best days might be behind him, but he was very impressive.
It’s made the Betway Champion Chase very interesting.
Realistically, on what he did on Sunday, you’d have to give him a big chance. Un De Sceaux would certainly have to improve to beat him.
Ruby said Faugheen was hanging and didn’t feel quite right in the Morgiana Hurdle.
I’m sure they’re disappointed, and you’d have to think he’s run well below form, considering how close Wicklow Brave got to him.
It’s a long time until March, though, and you wouldn’t write him off. There are very few horses who have never been beaten, they can all have an off day.
More Of That is another on the comeback trail and, like Sprinter Sacre, he looked as though he was back to something like his old form.
Every time Barry asked him he gave more. It was an impressive start over fences and over a trip probably short of his best.
This week
Looking ahead, Captain Chris might run at Ascot on Saturday.
I schooled him last week and he popped over a few fences nicely.
He had an injury last year, and he’s not getting any younger, so it would be lovely to get him back on track.
With all the rain they’ve had in the north, anyone running at Haydock on Saturday is likely to need flippers.
For that reason, I’d say it’s unlikely Menorah will travel up.
READ: Richard Johnson: It will take a good mare to beat Copper Kay
