Twist Pistol fancied to do the business
I kick away with French-import Twist Pistol in a novice hurdle and, if Paul Nicholls is right, then he should collect. I rode a couple of winners for Paul at Taunton last Tuesday and he told me then he expected Twist Pistol to do the business.
Only a four-year-old, he will be having a first outing for Paul, having won at Pau in January. I’m told he will handle soft ground no problem, so I’ll be looking to him for the perfect start to the weekend.
Rangitoto is on a bit of a retrieving mission in the following novice hurdle, having failed to justify favouritism at Newbury last time.
He jumped and travelled really well through the contest, but you would have to say his finish was weak and he only managed a well-beaten third.
That race was run over an extended three miles and he is now down both in distance and class. Rangitoto is not a slow horse and I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t stay at Newbury.
If I’m right he will prove hard to beat and if I’m wrong then he won’t, it really is as simple as that.
After a spell over fences, R de Rien Sivola returns to hurdling in a two and a half mile handicap. She fell at the eighth on her latest appearance at Hereford and that is hardly ideal.
But she was a smart hurdler as a four-year-old and this does not look a good contest. I think she has a great chance.
Limerick houses a good card tomorrow and I’m heading down there for five rides, starting with Super Sonic Boom in a maiden hurdle.
I am not hopeful regarding his prospects, even in a race as weak as this. He performed poorly for me first time over jumps at Naas and will need to improve markedly on that effort.
I rode a nice winner for Tony Martin and Gigginstown at Cork on Thursday, Bog Warrior, and would like to repeat the trick for them aboard Gift Of Dgab in a conditions hurdle.
He won well for Davy Russell at Navan, beating Willie Mullins’ Popcorn, and Tony has his horses in fine shape at the moment.
This, however, looks a hot race to me. I thought Prince Of Fire ran well for a long way in the Imperial Cup at Sandown and Barry Geraghty is an eye-catching booking for Charles Byrnes’ Jack Cool.
I partner Lios A Choill for Willie in a two and a half mile novice hurdle and this looks another really smart contest. Lios A Choill would have won in a canter at Thurles, but for falling at the last, and then made no mistake at Navan.
We have always liked him at Willie’s and will be disappointed if he doesn’t at least run a big race. But there are some more than useful rivals in opposition and you couldn’t be too confident.
Sean Aherne has booked me for Gerdalia, in a mares’ hurdle, and she has to have a life, returning to the track and trip where she was so impressive last time.
The problem I have, though, is that I haven’t been riding in these mares’ races all season, so am in the dark as to the quality of her opponents.
I end on Hampshire Express for Willie in the Grade 2 novice chase. He ran badly at Punchestown, but has come on plenty in the meantime and will surely leave that effort behind.
He’s a tough little horse, who will love going three miles. That said, however, Hampshire will have to improve on what he’s done so far to cope with the likes of Quito De La Roque and Roi Du Mee, but just might.
A winning nap would not go astray and I’m going to row in with Willie’s Samain, a horse I really like, in the bumper at the Curragh tomorrow.
Next week I might be at Exeter on Tuesday and then on Wednesday night will head to Aintree for three of the biggest days of the year, culminating with the Grand National on Saturday.
Of course, I team up with the likely favourite in The Midnight Club and other high-profile rides I have are Big Buck’s and Master Minded.
Obviously, I’d love to land a third National, but essentially will settle for walking out of the place on Saturday night largely unscathed.
I broke my wrist at Aintree before and then, last year, busted my arm in three places when Celestial Halo sent me spinning to the turf in a hurdle race.
I missed the National and instead had to settle for becoming an inmate at Fazackerly Hospital. Whatever the fate of The Midnight Club that’s one building I have no desire to see this time round.
