In his exclusive column, the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador describes Saturday's ride as 'without doubt' his best of the weekend
I kick-off at Ascot on Saturday with Ephraim for Charlie Mann in the novices’ hurdle (12.20pm) and I’m hopeful of a bold show.
He was pretty useful on the flat back in Germany and we will know a lot more about him after the race.
I suppose one big positive is that Charlie must have seen something to throw him in at the deep end here.
Relentless Dreamer runs in the novices’ handicap chase (12.55pm) and even though there are only six runners it looks a competitive looking contest.
He made a pleasing chasing debut at Worcester last month and connections obviously think a bit of him to have taken him to the Punchestown Festival in April.
He looks a proper stayer and this near three-mile trip will take plenty of getting.
The first of my two rides for Charlie Longsdon is Promanco in the mares handicap hurdle (1.30pm).
She is nice mare who won two at the start of the season before a bit of a summer break.
She’s run creditably in two runs since without setting the world on fire and I’m hopeful she’ll improve again.
That said, she’ll need to with the likes of Brian Ellison’s Smart Talk in the field.
It will be great to see Vautour back in action in the feature Stella Artois 1965 Chase (2.05pm) as he was without doubt one of the most impressive winners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
I ride Third Intention for the in-form Colin Tizzard team and he always seems to run his race.
We’d be very hopeful of picking up some decent prize money in behind, but it will be very hard to beat Vautour and we may all be chasing his shadow.
I must also mention the talented Ptit Zig who is also hugely progressive and isn’t running just to make up the numbers.
My best ride of the weekend is without doubt Brother Tedd in the 2.40pm, as he just continues to improve at a rate of knots.
He did really well to win AP’s last race at Sandown and then reappeared at Kempton where he readily saw off Silviniaco Conti who may not have been match fit.
He faces some tough opposition, headed by Rock On Ruby who will be a tough nut to crack.
He’ll be far better suited by Saturday’s test than he was with the three-mile slog at Wetherby on very soft ground.
However, I’m sweet on Brother Tedd’s chances and he’ll run really well if he steps up again from Kempton.
Good old Dunraven Storm (3.15pm) may well be a little too high in the handicap at the moment and has slightly lost his confidence.
That said, he is going to bounce back in a race like this and fingers crossed that will be on Saturday.
He has been a great servant for the yard and he looks sure to run another decent honest race, although there look to be better handicapped horses in the race.
Finally, I ride Crazy Penguin in the bumper (3.50pm) who ran a nice race on debut at Worcester and is bound to have learnt from that good introduction.
The race looks really hot on paper so he will definitely need to step up to take a hand here.
The pick of my Sunday rides is Jaboltiski who has to defy a penalty in the juvenile hurdle at Exeter (3.00pm).
I was delighted with the way he won at Huntingdon on his debut and I’d be hopeful he could go in again.
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