The improving horse has the right profile for the race at Newbury, says the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador in his exclusive column
Saturday
The ground is certain to be really testing at Newbury on Saturday and my first ride of the day is Sykes in the handicap hurdle (1.50pm).
He’s won two races this season and his light weight will be a bonus in the conditions.
He has a good attitude and seems to handle all types of ground. It’s a competitive race, there are plenty of decent horses in there, but Sykes should go well.
Top Gamble runs in the Game Spirit (3.00pm) where he takes on last season’s Betway Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets.
Paul Nicholls’ runner is obviously top class but, I suppose if he’s going to get beaten, Saturday could be the day.
It’s his first race of the season, he had a setback before the Tingle Creek, the ground is going to be testing and he has to give away plenty of weight.
If there are any chinks in his armour, I’m hopeful that Top Gamble can take advantage.
He’s a straightforward horse and two miles on soft ground suits him really well. He’s coming into the race in good form and with the right conditions, so he should have a great chance of finishing in the first two.
I don’t have any concerns about the ground for Sternrubin (3.35pm). He’s gone up 8lb for his last win, but he’s an improving horse and has the right profile for a race like this. Hopefully there’s more to come.
If someone wants to take me on, they’ll be harming their own chances because he’s very quick. If I can get him to relax and into a nice rhythm, without using up too much energy, I think he’ll have a great chance.
I love him to bits and wouldn’t swap him for anything else.
As ever, it’s a very competitive race. Barry [Geraghty] choosing to ride Blazer is a tip in itself.
They’re obviously happy with him after last week and the rest of us just have to hope that he had a harder race than it looked at Leopardstown.
I do think Cheltenian is over-priced. He was second last year and fourth two years ago. The track really suits him and he’s got top weight because he’s got the best form.
War Sound could be anything – I actually bought him as a foal so obviously have a keen interest in him.
He’s only at the start of his career and hopefully he’ll finish second to me. In fact, a Philip [Hobbs] one-two-three with me in front would be perfect!
I rode One Of Us (4.45pm) in a bumper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and really liked him. It was the first run of his life and he was just a bit green.
The track should suit him and I’m sure he’ll have improved from his run at Cheltenham.
Sunday
It’s going to be touch and go whether Exeter goes ahead on Sunday, but if it does I’ve got some decent rides.
Rolling Dylan (2.10pm) has some solid form on soft ground and he just got beat in a photo at Taunton last time. He should have a fair chance.
I rode West Approach (3.10pm) at Cheltenham earlier this season and he’s learning all the time. He’ll definitely be a staying chaser in the future, but he’s still open to improvement as he was pretty green when I rode him.
You’re going to need a horse that stays on this ground and that is definitely something that Midnight Prayer (3.40pm) does.
He ran well at Warwick last time and his target looks to be the Grand National. Alan King’s horses are in great form, so he must go there with decent claims.
Fingal Bay (4.10pm) seems really well at home. This is a graduation chase, which is a step down in class, and it would be fantastic to get his head back in front and give him a nice confidence booster.
It’s a bit less competitive than the handicaps he’s been running in, so fingers crossed.
Westend Story should go well in the bumper (5.10pm). He won at Huntingdon on Boxing Day and will have no problems with the ground.
READ: Davy Russell: Choosing between Smashing and Morning Assembly was really tough
READ: Mad Jack Mytton looks great each-way value at Newbury
READ: Richard Johnson: I imagine I’ll be on Sternrubin on Saturday
