The Betway ambassador previews Thursday's rides at Cheltenham, and Saturday's chances at Ayr...
Cheltenham – Thursday
I don’t have a ride in the Listed Mares’ Hurdle (3.15pm), but Snow Leopardess is worth mentioning – she’s a very decent mare.
She won a Listed bumper in Ireland as well as the Mares’ Final at Newbury and looks like the one they all have to beat.
I finished behind her on Copper Kay – who is also a decent mare – at Newbury, and she is sure to take all the beating.
For whatever reason Lamb Or Cod ran below par at Aintree. It was pretty disappointing and I’m hoping he can make amends in the 3m 2f Handicap Chase (3.50pm).
He’s well-handicapped now and the faster ground is definitely in his favour.
I’ve got Big Easy in the three-mile Handicap Hurdle (4.20pm) – it’s the first time I’ve been on him since the Pertemps Final in 2015.
He’s obviously spent a lot of time off the track through injury and we’re hoping he can find some form again.
If he can come back to his best form he’d have a great chance, but really we just want to see him run a decent race after pulling up on his comeback run.
Philip Hobbs will definitely have him fit and ready, but he’s a 10-year-old now and he needs to show some of that spark of old to run a decent race.
Ten Sixty returns to Cheltenham for the first time since this meeting last year and runs in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (4.55pm).
He has only had the three starts over fences and showed good improvement to win last time out at Newbury.
He’s a horse that was a bit big and backward, but he’s coming along well now. Hopefully there’s still plenty more to come and he showed at Newbury that the further he goes, the better.
Mark’s Folly has been going well at home ahead of the Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (5.30pm).
Philip wouldn’t be taking her to race at Cheltenham first time out if he didn’t like her. The yard is in great form and fingers crossed there are a few more winners to come this spring.
Scottish Champion Hurdle
It’s looking like Ozzie The Oscar ({ODDS:151870003:12/1}) will go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
He’ll definitely appreciate the good ground and we’re hoping he’ll go close off the back of his Cheltenham run.
