In his exclusive column, the Betway ambassador discusses his weekend rides as well as another win for Gary Moore and Sire De Grugy
Last week
Wishfull Thinking has been in great form at home and he jumped and travelled really well early on in the Peterborough Chase.
I never like making excuses but it was really windy there yesterday, it was almost blowing a gale during the race.
He’s always had problems with his breathing and the combination of the wind and sticky ground just meant that he couldn’t get a second wind.
Don’t take anything away from Al Ferof, though, he was impressive and a deserving winner. He’s a very good horse but he’s still an outsider for the King George in my eyes as it looks such a hot race.
He might be in the mix turning in, but if they all line-up there could be two or three a notch better than him.
Wishfull Thinking will probably have a break now and come back for the spring.
I was very pleased with Menorah at Aintree on Saturday, especially considering the ground.
He was taking on two top-class stayers who loved the conditions whereas we didn’t.
He enjoys it around Aintree so he’ll probably come back for the Bowl in April. There’s also the Oaksey Chase that he’s won at Sandown the last two years.
Don Poli did it well, he’s a high class horse and won the RSA really well last season.
I think he’ll be at his best in the Gold Cup. With the likes of Coneygree and Cue Card in there he’ll be guaranteed a fast past and a real stamina test. He’s a live contender.
I’ll be amazed if Many Clouds doesn’t put an end to the Grand National hoodoo of winners not winning another race. In fact, he could win the National again in April. He ran really well.
My one winner over the weekend was Jer’s Girl in the juvenile hurdle. She really impressed me.
She’s a mare that loves soft ground and I believe they’re now looking at the juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Golden Doyen struggled in the ground at Exeter behind Tea For Two on Friday.
The winner did it really well on his first start over fences, but my lad is eligible for handicaps now and we’ll wait for the spring with him.
His next start will probably be the novices’ handicap chase on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. The better ground should help and his form behind Ar Mad doesn’t seem that bad now after his impressive win on Saturday.
I’m not sure what Gary Moore’s feeding his horses at the moment, but I wouldn’t mind some of it.
The Tingle Creek looked to be run at a real two-mile championship pace. It seemed like a good race, decent horses like Mr Mole couldn’t live with the pace.
I think Sire De Grugy is up there with anything else at the moment. Un De Sceaux is the one they’re all aiming at, but he has to improve. Sire De Grugy should be there or thereabouts come March.
What happened at the last fence was unfortunate, but there was no intent there. Sire De Grugy always jumps a bit to the left.
If you owned or trained the second, you’d be a little disappointed but, although it stopped his momentum, I don’t think it cost him the race. It was right to leave the result as it was.
I said to Josh Moore after he beat me on Ar Mad last month that I couldn’t believe the speed he went. The way he jumps, it’s going to take a good one to get the better of him.
I was really impressed and I thought Josh gave him a great ride. You can’t go that speed the whole way round over two miles and he gave him a breather at the right time before kicking on again.
This week
It’s a quiet start to the week. I’ve got two decent chances for Gordon Elliott at Musselburgh today so fingers crossed.
The big race for me at the weekend is the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham and it looks like both Champagne West and Village Vic will take their chance.
Champagne West was a high class novice last season. He’s won twice around Cheltenham, seem in great order at home and won’t mind the ground.
Village Vic has been in great form this term and we’re hopeful he’s still going the right way.
It’s the perfect race for both of them and it’s obviously nice to have two decent chances. It’s just a shame they’re in the same race.
READ: Richard Johnson: I’m hoping for another magical day with Wishfull Thinking
READ: Gary Moore: Sire De Grugy is exactly where I want him ahead of Tingle Creek
