In his exclusive column, the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador is already thinking about this weekend's big handicap hurdle at Newbury
It was great to ride a double at Sandown on Saturday and I’m up at Musselburgh again on Monday where I’m on two for Gordon Elliott.
Sandown
I was really pleased with Saddlers Encore in the handicap hurdle. He made a nice reappearance at Wincanton behind If In Doubt and we were hopeful of a big run.
For a horse with relatively little experience, he travelled and jumped really well. His big strength is his stamina so I wanted to be positive on him.
You need to stay when the conditions are like that at Sandown and we were a bit worried about the ground beforehand.
He’s by Presenting, whose progeny normally prefer better ground, but he handled it well.
There has to be every chance that he’ll head to Cheltenham for the Pertemps now.
It’s a high-class staying handicap these days – horses have to finish in the first six to qualify which makes it more competitive.
There wasn’t much between him and If In Doubt at Wincanton and I imagine they’ll be on pretty similar terms at the Festival.
They are two good stayers and hopefully they can both go close.
Pinnacle Panda took the closing handicap hurdle. He ran around a bit and jinked badly left approaching the line.
Apparently he’s always been a little highly strung, but he’s definitely going the right way and is one to keep an eye out for on better ground over further.
If he can relax a little more I’m sure there’s plenty of improvement to come. It’s a nervous thing with him rather than a quirk – some horses just get a bit spooked.
Pete The Feat ran really well to finish second to Le Reve. He’s at the top end of the handicap now and you’d hope he can land a veterans’ or long distance chase this season.
Even though he’s a 12-year-old, he’s got a great attitude and just bumped into a course specialist on the day.
Musselburgh
I had four rides at Musselburgh on Sunday. I flagged Fagan as my best chance of a winner in Friday’s blog and he performed well.
O O Seven is a good yardstick and they’re two decent horses. I’m sure Fagan booked his ticket to Cheltenham here where the Albert Bartlett looks the right race for him.
It was a solid run on his second start over hurdles. He should be well suited by spring ground.
Taglietelle ran really well in the Pertemps qualifier and I think he would have gone close if he hadn’t made the mistake three out.
These races are all very competitive and this lad is running off a high mark at the moment. He ran in the Long Walk last time and this was a good performance off 154.
Newbury
There’s a cracking card at Newbury on Saturday and I imagine I’ll be riding Sternrubin in the big handicap hurdle.
This hasn’t been confirmed with Philip [Hobbs] yet, but I presume I’ll be on Sternrubin, Ciaran [Gethings] will continue on War Sound and Tom [O’Brien] will be on Cheltenian.
Obviously anything can happen but at this stage that’s how it looks.
In any case, I think all three will go there with solid claims. Sternrubin won at Newbury earlier this season and did really well at Ascot last time.
War Sound won the Swinton on his last start, while Cheltenian put up a good show at Cheltenham last time.
It’s one of the hottest handicaps of the season and I’m sure it will be very competitive again on Saturday.
Rest of this week
I’ve got two decent rides for Gordon [Elliott] at Musselburgh on Monday.
Jetstream Jack (2.00pm) has some good novice hurdle form in Ireland and he looks like my best chance.
I don’t know much about Moonman in the bumper (4.00pm), but hopefully he can run well.
Onefitzall goes in the novice hurdle at Market Rasen on Tuesday (3.05pm). He’s an exciting prospect and we’ve given him a break, trying to avoid the bad ground.
Although it’s going to be testing here, he should be alright on it.
READ: Richard Johnson: There should be more to come from Saddlers Encore
