I’m expecting a big performance from Poungach
Today I head to Wincanton in an effort to set the record straight aboard Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old in a novice chase.
That Chepstow race was essentially a match between Poungach and Richard Johnson’s mount, Fingal Bay.
No one wanted to go on, so Richard and I headed to the first together in an effort to help each other.
As we soared over the fence my lad was so good that I thought well I’m definitely going to be in front at the second.
I couldn’t believe it when we departed. He slipped, dribbled and then fell and I’ve often been aboard horses who made far less of an attempt to get to the other side of an obstacle and had no trouble surviving.
On Wednesday morning I schooled Poungach with Michel Le Bon and it went just fine. But he now has to go onto the track and produce a decent round of jumping.
He is a good horse and, of course, Paul won this particular race a year ago with Silviniaco Conti. I’m expecting a big performance.
My nap choice, however, is Prospect Wells in the valuable Grade 2 handicap hurdle. I have chosen him ahead of Zarkandar, who has to carry top weight.
The two of them schooled upsides on Wednesday and both jumped very well. The fact Prospect Wells is getting 17lbs from Zarkandar, however, swayed me towards him.
Prospect Wells ran solidly at the Cheltenham festival and again when third to Darlan at Aintree. He’s not the biggest in the world and 10-7 looks an ideal weight.
The aforementioned Michel Le Bon crops up in a three miles plus handicap chase. He was last seen at Cheltenham in April, 205 days ago, when winning easily over hurdles for Ryan Mahon. I’d like to think he will strip in the same mood now.
Michel Le Bon is in good form and a has a lot of work done, but the fact hasn’t won over fences for nearly three years is an obvious concern.
I’m on Foggy’s Wall in the bumper, but he hasn’t achieved enough to be in any way confident that he might be good enough.
Just a word about Paul’s Mr Mole in the first, a novice hurdle. He is owned by J P McManus and will be ridden by Tony McCoy.
It’s a pity Tony didn’t head to Sandown and I’d have thrown my leg over this fellow, but you can’t have everything!
Anyway, he bolted in at Exeter and I saw him work the other morning. I’d imagine he will take a bit of whacking.
I’m off to Navan tomorrow for three rides, starting with Ted Veale in a Grade 3 hurdle for novices.
Tony Martin seems reasonably optimistic about his chances, but he ran badly at Limerick last time and I don’t share his enthusiasm.
Willie Mullins unveils So Young in the Lismullen Hurdle and this will reveal plenty as to the state of fitness of his horses at this stage.
So Young is in good shape, but is one of the first of the big guns to be fired this winter and we really don’t know where we stand right now.
As well as that he is taking on Voler La Vedette, a cracking mare. She ended last season by chasing home Big Buck’s at Cheltenham and Quevega at Punchestown and that represents form of the highest order.
I think Liam Cusack’s Last Time d’Albain is my best in a handicap hurdle. He got beaten at Cork, but that developed into a sprint, and was much more suited by a stamina test when we won at Punchestown. He’s up 8lbs for that, by my view is whatever finishes in front of him will win.
After I put this together yesterday, I made my way to Thurles to ride in some schooling races for Willie Mullins. I was due to be joined by Paul Townend, David Casey and Patrick, Danny and Emmet Mullins.
The plan was to put more than 40 horses through their paces. Willie, as usual, has been in no hurry with his charges, but the screw is now being turned and his juggernaut is about to hit town.
