Cousin Vinny poised to do the business
The enforced holiday has been quite boring. A week ago, however, looking at the weather in Britain and Ireland, I didn’t really feel we’d be returning so quickly.
The snow and ice tested the patience of everyone. You went to work and didn’t ride out until say 11.30 in the morning, hours later than normal.
And then there was the feeling that all the work in the world was a bit pointless, with nothing essentially to aim at. But those thoughts have disappeared and when Barry Geraghty and I board the 7.50 out of Dublin this morning, bound for Heathrow, we’ll know the show really is back on the road.
I have an excellent chance of making a flying start on Watergate in the first, the juvenile hurdle. He’s come from Mark Prescott’s and that has often been a rich source of National Hunt winners in the past.
I’ve schooled the horse, he jumps fairly well and is a long way from being the worst in the Paul Nicholls yard. We expect a big run.
I’m on Mahonia in what appears to be a hot little five-runner novice chase. His last form figure tells us he fell at Plumpton, but that’s a little misleading.
Mahonia was basically the meat in a sandwich at the second last and was knocked over. He didn’t deserve to hit the deck, having given a fine exhibition of jumping prior to that.
I don’t think he would have won in any case and he’s not one who finds a whole pile off the bridle. But I’ll be bucking him out nice and handy anyway, to actually make use of his jumping.
The Minack is on a retrieving mission in the novices’ hurdle, having been most disappointing behind Tell Massini at Cheltenham.
I don’t know why he ran so badly, even accepting the terrible mistake made at a crucial time, the third last. In any case, if The Minack hadn’t blundered, he still wouldn’t have got anywhere near the winner.
Paul said to me recently they are horses, not machines, and one blip is allowed. We’ll be looking for a far better effort, but you couldn’t be confident until he goes and does it again on the track.
Richard Rowe booked me yesterday morning for Lord Appelare in a handicap chase and, I’d imagine, fancies him. He won 22 lengths at Huntingdon the last day and went up 12lbs.
That’s about the limit of my knowledge regarding the nine-year-old, although I am aware he was beaten on 20 occasions before Huntingdon.
It’s not easy to be enthusiastic about Shamari, tailed off at Newbury, in a handicap hurdle. He’s a funny horse, peculiar, and, at this stage, I don’t even know what trip he wants.
Fistral Beach, in a handicap chase, is another puzzle. He has lots of seconds to his credit and that is, obviously, never a good sign.
He’s an enigma and, being honest, I don’t have a clue as to the right way to ride him. We’ve tried everything and he baffles both Paul and I.
It’s Fairyhouse tomorrow and Cousin Vinny, in the beginners chase, is the one to which I am most looking forward.
I rode him work on Thursday morning and he simply delighted me. I was thrilled with his jumping when second to Roberto Goldback at Navan and it was only fitness which beat him. Granted luck in running, I’ll be disappointed should he fail to deliver.
I start on Arvika Legeonniere in the maiden hurdle. He came from France with a decent reputation, but performed poorly when only fourth in a bumper on this track.
He ran far too freely and will have to learn to settle and switch off. Willie Mullins likes him, but I just hope he behaves.
I rode Scotsirish badly at Leopardstown at Christmas and won’t be making the same mistake in the Grade 2 chase. I read the contest wrong, thinking there would be a lot more pace in the race.
Golden Silver was a worthy winner on the day, but I should have finished second. If they go a good gallop I’ll be happy to drop in again, but one way or another there will be no hanging about this time round.
All The Cousins is hard to fancy in a handicap hurdle. Tony Martin felt he might win at Navan the last day and he ended up last of the 14 finishers.
I partner Saddlers Storm for Tony in a handicap chase. Judging by the way he finished at Leopardstown, Saddlers Storm should relish this three miles and a furlong.
The problem, though, is that I will surely put up some overweight. He is set to carry 10-2, but more than likely that will be 10-4.
I haven’t ridden in a race for a fortnight and it is very difficult to get down near the 10-0 mark when you are off for so long.
