In his exclusive column, the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador previews his weekend rides and pays tribute to his old rival AP McCoy
I’ll be rushing home from Fakenham on Sunday to try and get back to watch AP McCoy be presented with his richly-deserved BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award.
It’s fantastic for AP and racing that our sport gets into the spotlight on such a big stage. He deserves all the credit he is getting as I cannot think of another sportsman or sportswoman who has dominated their trade for 20 years like he did.
I’ve got a busy book of rides at Ascot tomorrow and kick-off with Carlo Rocks for Caroline Bailey in the opening novices’ handicap hurdle (12.40pm).
If I’m honest I don’t know too much about him, but his win at Southwell earlier in the month over three miles on soft ground proves that he’ll handle the ground and stay the trip which are two big positives.
Royal Regatta (1.15pm) is very talented on his day, but has been a little frustrating and we’ve put blinkers and a tongue strap on him tomorrow in the 2m 5f Graduation Chase (1.15pm) in an attempt to eke out some improvement.
He just seems to run in snatches so hopefully that will help him tomorrow. He won over two miles at Doncaster and Newbury last year, but definitely shaped last time like he now needs a bit further.
The ground was probably too soft for Mountain King (1.50pm) on Hennessy Day at Newbury last time, so the slightly better conditions will help him tomorrow. He has to have a strong chance now having upped in trip as he was just a little outpaced last time.
Everyone knows plenty about grand old Reve De Sivola and he bids to land his fourth consecutive Long Walk (2.25pm).
He comes here fresh unlike both Thistlecrack and Saphir Du Rheu who had hard races in their respective assignments at Newbury.
He is one that would love it to pour with rain tonight, but even without that he still must have an excellent chance as he’s an excellent stayer. Don’t forget, the other horses have to step up to his standard rather than him have to improve.
I’d like to think that Fingal Bay has a very strong chance in the Silver Cup (3.00pm) and I certainly wouldn’t swap him for anything in the race as he’s off a mark he can win from.
I was delighted with the way he ran at Newbury in the Hennessy and the handicapper has dropped him 2lb for that run too.
As long as that race hasn’t left its mark, I’m expecting a really bold showing from him as there doesn’t look to be another Smad Place in the race.
If I was to flag up a danger, it would be Charlie Longsdon’s Pendra who will be a tough nut to crack if reproducing his last run.
It’s hard to be bullish in the 21-runner Ladbroke Hurdle (3.35pm), but I was really impressed with the way Sternrubin won last time and I think he may have improved too.
He stays well, has that all-important high cruising speed and looks to have relished his summer break. Some of these ex-flat horses aren’t used to that and it seems to have settled him down a bit.
It looks a wide-open race with the likes of Jolly’s Cracked It and Winner Massagot in the field.
The former is respected, but I’m definitely more worried about the latter as he won in effortless fashion last time and may still be unexposed.
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