After a weather-disrupted weekend, the Betway ambassador was impressed by Nigel Twiston-Davies' nine-year-old...
It’s been a frustrating few days with the weather.
Ascot was always going to be at risk on Saturday, but if that was off I was then thinking I could go to Taunton for a few rides. But the track was frozen there as well, so I headed up to Haydock for just the one ride.
What I would say is that the racecourses made the decisions early so we could get to other meetings.
It’s good that they didn’t mess anyone about. Everyone wants racing on but sometimes you just prolong the agony.
All a bit too quick for Sausalito
So I headed up the M6 to ride Sausalito Sunrise in the Peter Marsh Chase. Haydock’s a sharp track now and they went pretty quick from the beginning.
He was just taken off his feet slightly. He took the first three okay, but they were just going a touch too fast for him and he ploughed through the fourth.
Staying on horses when they make mistakes is often about luck. I went up in the air and when I came back down again he just wasn’t there and gravity took over.
If you come back down and the horse is still there, you have a chance to make the recovery. You need something to hold onto!
It was very frustrating, but that’s racing. I think he will come back to Haydock for the Grand National Trial next month and going that bit further will probably suit him a little better.
Impressive display from Bristol De Mai
There was a good gallop throughout and that seemed to suit Bristol De Mai perfectly. He’s always been a very good horse and he’d had his breathing done since the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last time.
Don’t forget that he was a Grade One winner over hurdles.
You’d have to be impressed with him. Nigel Twiston-Davies and Daryl Jacob will know better than me if he’s a Gold Cup horse. He ran over two miles last year so he’s certainly not slow.
He looks to have plenty of options at Cheltenham. His best form is on softer ground, so I’m sure they’ll be hoping for a couple of wet weeks in early March.
He’s only a six-year-old and is still improving so he has plenty of time on his side.
Can’t help but like The New One
It was a great weekend for Nigel with The New One winning the Champion Hurdle Trial for the third year in a row.
I know some people will question the form, but he was giving away a lot of weight and on ground he doesn’t really enjoy. He got the job done and he wins more races than he loses, which can’t be said about many horses.
You just can’t help but like him, every yard would love to have one like him.
His performance was a boost for those who fancy Yanworth for the Champion Hurdle. The New One showed again on Saturday that he stays very well. You’d be surprised if he doesn’t get three miles.
On the Kempton form, Yanworth has the beating of him and the Stayers’ Hurdle is more of an open race than the Champion Hurdle. You normally don’t have to be as good on the figures to win a Stayers’.
Unowhatimeanharry has done nothing wrong so far, but I still feel Ballyoptic would have finished very close to him at Ascot. I think The New One would have a very big shout in the Stayers’ if connections decided to go there.
You could never rule him out in a Champion Hurdle, but he’s gone there three times and has never won.
Impressed by Neon Wolf
It was a really impressive display by Neon Wolf in the novices’ hurdle. Noel Fehily was a bit worried about the sharpness of the track but he had no need to be as he won really well and kept his unbeaten record.
Although he’s only had four starts, including his point-to-point, he’s a six-year-old and I often think that slightly older horses have a bit of an advantage in their novice hurdling season.
They’ve had a bit more time to fill out and learn about racing. He looks like a very exciting prospect and will be a big threat wherever he goes next. He’s one for the notebook.
Action in Ireland
Another day, another big handicap win for Gordon Elliott – he’s having a brilliant season. The same can be said of Jack Kennedy, who is a young jockey really going places. It was a great ride to get A Toi Phil up on the line.
Yorkhill might not have impressed everyone, but he won and got around again. I’m sure the experience will have done him the world of good.
It was good to see Jezki come back with a win at Navan. Like The New One, he has options and he’ll more than likely be taking on one of JP McManus’ other stars in either the Champion Hurdle or the Stayers’.
That’s a nice problem to have.
Looking ahead to the weekend
There’s some good racing at Cheltenham and Doncaster this weekend, I’m not sure where I’ll be yet.
Rock The Kasbah will run somewhere and we could step him up to three miles for the first time. Although he’s been running well, we’re hopeful that the extra distance will bring about some more improvement.
Philip Hobbs should have a few out this week and February’s now just around the corner. January tends to be a bit quieter and then things kick into gear again.
