In his exclusive column, the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador reveals he has 6lbs to lose between now and Saturday
All eyes are on Newbury at the end of the week for the Hennessy meeting and I look set to ride Fingal Bay for Philip Hobbs in the big one.
I sat on him on Monday morning and he felt in great nick – I’m sure he’s ready to put up a bold show.
He’ll come on for his reappearance blow out at Kempton and meets Smad Place on much healthier terms come Saturday.
Yes, we were beaten eight lengths at Kempton, but we were upsides two out and I don’t think there will be too much between the pair come Saturday.
I’ve got the rest of the week to get myself down to 10 stone and you can mark my words that I only do that for the good ones!
I’ve got 6lbs to lose between now and then, so at least I can do it gradually over the week – no seconds for me!
As for the race itself, I reckon that Bobs Worth looks absolutely thrown in.
He rolled back the years at Aintree over hurdles earlier in the month and lines up on Saturday from a handicap mark of just 153.
He is definitely the one we all have to beat in my opinion.
Coneygree was mightily impressive the other day but it will take a monster performance to shoulder top weight.
As for the exciting Saphir Du Rheu, he’s got his fair share of weight too and his jumping will be tested in the hustle and bustle of a race like the Hennessy.
It’s a great meeting to look forward to and I’m particularly excited about the possibility of Wait For Me making his hurdling debut on Friday.
He hasn’t run since finishing third in the bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, which was an astonishing run for one so young and inexperienced.
He gave me a lovely feel that day, as he did again when I schooled him the other morning.
Onefitzall is another novice held in high regard and is set to run on Friday, so these are exciting times.
Looking back at the weekend’s action and my big fancy Brother Tedd wasn’t suited by the falsely-run race in the end and was beaten in the dash to the line by former Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby, who clearly still has plenty of his old zip.
I wasn’t too disappointed with Brother Tedd, though.
He continues to improve and will hold his own in some decent races this campaign.
I finished third behind Vautour and Ptit Zig on Third Intention in the Stella Artois 1965 Chase and I guess after his scintillating win at Cheltenham last season, it was hard to be impressed by the winner.
That said, Ruby (Walsh) knows more and was adamant that he was in desperate need of the run and will improve bundles for the outing.
He looks set to head to Kempton next for the King George where he looks set to could meet the evergreen Cue Card who beat Silviniacco at Haydock.
Colin Tizzard has done an unbelievable job to bring Cue Card back and he arguably looks better than ever.
I’m not sure whether he has just matured or the yard are just in better health, but he seems more relaxed and his jumping is even better than it was as he’s not so keen.
