The Betway ambassador offers his SPOTY support to Nick Skelton and previews the weekend's racing...
BBC SPOTY
I’m looking forward to going to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday night in Birmingham.
It’s been a fantastic year of sport with the Olympics and it should be a really fun evening. Of all the people nominated I’ll definitely be giving my support to Nick Skelton.
I’ve watched him throughout my life and to win a gold medal at this stage of his career is truly amazing.
Ascot on Saturday
I thought Pull The Chord ran well on his first start over fences at Ludlow – I was really pleased with him that day. He should have a good chance in the handicap chase (1.50pm).
The run will have brought him on and he was always a very professional horse over hurdles.
Ascot is a demanding course, especially heading down the back straight when they’re going down the hill. They need to be assured with their jumping.
This is a bigger test than Ludlow, but he definitely shaped well that day and I’d be quite hopeful.
It’s great to pick up another big ride for the Twiston-Davies yard with Ballyoptic ({ODDS:126738244:8/1}) in the Long Walk (2.25pm).
He had a bad fall at Wetherby when he was upsides at the last, but his form is very solid. That might have knocked his confidence a little, as he wasn’t quite as fluent with his jumping at Newbury last time.
Having that run under his belt is a real bonus and Nigel’s horses are in great nick.
Unowhatimeanharry ({ODDS:126738241:11/8}) was impressive at Newbury and we have to improve to beat him. But he’s a young horse and there’s no reason to suggest that he won’t improve.
I’ve never ridden Ballyoptic before so will be guided by Nigel and Sam. He’s a very strong stayer and Reve De Sivola ({ODDS:126738246:8/1}), who’s another great stayer, loves it round here because it’s a real test.
Ascot can suit horses that run towards the head of affairs. If you can get your horse into a nice rhythm and jumping well, it allows you to give them a breather because the others don’t like to get racing too soon because it’s such a stiff track.
There’s plenty of strength in depth in this race, but I hope there’s more to come from Ballyoptic. His staying ability has to be a real bonus.
Go Conquer is another nice ride to pick up in the Silver Cup (3.00pm). Jonjo O’Neill’s horse are in great form and you’d have to respect a horse that’s open to improvement in a race like this.
He won well at Wincanton last April and there was a long way back to the third when he was second to Present Man here last month.
Sternrubin ({ODDS:126744066:14/1}) tries to win the big handicap hurdle (3.35pm) for the second year running and he’s a real favourite of mine.
Ascot really suits him, he’s run the best races of his career here. Unfortunately he’s a bit higher in the weights than when he dead-heated last year, but his win over course and distance in October showed that he’d improved again.
The Greatwood probably came just a little too soon after that. He’s a horse that gives 200 per cent every time he runs, so he gives himself hard races.
He is a better horse with a reasonable break between his races and the longer break will definitely have helped here.
He has not had a massive hike in the weights since his last Ascot win. It’s a wide-open race and he should have a decent chance.
You’d have to think wherever he finishes, Jolly’s Cracked It ({ODDS:126744060:8/1}) should be fairly close.
You can never be at two places at once, but if I was going to Haydock, I’d be going would be for Tearsofclewbay in the mares novices’ hurdle (2.05pm).
She was impressive at Worcester in October and is a very talented mare.
The week so far
It’s been nice to pick up a few winners over the past few days, although it was a shame that Brother Tedd fell at Wincanton on Tuesday.
He’d jumped really well up that point and just over-pitched at the third last. He was going well at the time and I can’t believe he’s had four runs over fences and hasn’t won yet.
He should pick one up soon.
