In his exclusive column, the National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador discusses Ayr and pays tribute to a retiring 'superstar'
Ayr is always a fun couple of days. The Scottish Grand National is obviously the highlight and it’s a race I won a few years ago on Beshabar. Hopefully I’ll have some luck again this year.
Ayr Friday
I’ve got five rides on Friday and the first is on Jetstream Jack for Gordon Elliott in the opener (2.00pm). I won on him at Musselburgh earlier in the season, but he was perhaps a little disappointing in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham.
That’s a very big stage for a young horse and he should feel more at home here. It looks a match between him and Dan Skelton’s Welsh Shadow.
Wells De Lune (2.35pm) won really well at Fontwell two starts back. There was then a mix-up at Newbury where he had to wear blinkers rather than eyeshields.
The blinkers lit him up and he was far too keen. You’d like to think he’s a horse that’s still improving, but he’ll need to relax better.
I don’t know too much about Morning Royalty (4.15pm), but he has some reasonable form. He won two starts back at Carlisle and he handles soft ground and can jump well.
I’m on Morello Royale for Colin Tizzard in the mares’ handicap hurdle (4.45pm). The yard is flying at the moment and if she comes back to her Kempton form from earlier in the season, she’ll have a great chance.
Ceann Sibheal has won his last two and tries to make it a hat-trick in the finale (5.15pm).
I spoke with Gavin Sheehan on Thursday, as I haven’t ridden him before. He should go close, I just hope the handicapper hasn’t got to him yet.
Ayr Saturday
Killala Quay has run some solid races this year and goes for the Grade 2 novices’ chase (2.25pm). In fairness, it’s going to be tough for him against the likes of Bristol De Mai, but he should run his race.
I won the Scottish Champion Hurdle on Cheltenian last year and I’ll be hoping to repeat the feat with Sternrubin (3.00pm).
He’s been in great form all year and ran well at Cheltenham in the County Hurdle.
He was obviously disappointing at Newbury the time before that, but if he can reproduce his Cheltenham run he must have a solid chance.
It would be nice to get an easy lead on him and the slightly smaller field should help with that.
The Scottish Grand National would be a wonderful race to win and I think I’ve got a strong each-way chance with Spookydooky (4.10pm).
Jonjo’s [O’Neill] horses are in great form at the moment. This lad won’t mind the soft ground and I’d be pretty confident that he’ll stay.
I won on him at Newbury’s Hennessy meeting and the further he went the better he went that day.
It’s a very open race as always, but he has a good profile as novices tend to go well in it. He ticks plenty of boxes.
My last ride at Ayr is Man O’Words in the bumper (5.50pm) for Tom Lacey. I rode him when he was second at Doncaster on his debut and he’s a really nice horse.
It was a slowly run race that day and he should improve for the experience.
Wincanton Sunday
My first ride at Wincanton on Sunday is Benzel (3.30pm) for Jonjo. This is a very open race and hopefully he can run well.
Sarah Marie has her first start for Philip [Hobbs] in the novices’ hurdle (4.05pm). She’s a nice type and has been doing well at home, but she’s got a tough task here against the boys.
Louis’ Vac Pouch goes in the first division of the bumper (5.10pm). He was well beaten in the big sales bumper at Newbury last month, but this is an easier assignment and hopefully he will have learnt from the experience.
I’m on I’m A Game Changer in the second division (5.40pm). He ran out last time at Wincanton when he was just too green. He’s a nice horse and let’s hope he stays the right side of the wings this time.
Wishfull Thinking – wonderful old servant
Wishfull Thinking was retired after his run at Cheltenham on Wednesday at the grand old age of 13.
He’s been an absolute superstar. To do what he did for so long is remarkable. You can’t replace horses like him, they simply don’t come around very often.
The highlight of his career was probably last season’s Peterborough Chase win when he was just a few weeks shy of his 12th birthday.
He’s given us all so many great memories and deserves a long and happy retirement.
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