Progressive Sports Line going the right way
That said, you cannot treat the lead-in to the Festival any differently. Every horse over the next two days has be ridden to one’s best ability and that’s what I, and you can be sure all other jockeys concerned, will be doing.
It has been a hectic week and I’ve been all over Ireland and England, between my commitments in the saddle and those preview- nights.
This morning, I will back at Paul Nicholls’, I was there yesterday as well, and then head to Chepstow in the afternoon for just one ride. I will fly home tonight and then tomorrow morning, will ride out at the Curragh, head to Naas in the afternoon and then fly to Bristol Airport at 8.30.
I will be spending the week at a place called Hunting Butts, which is literally in the car park of Cheltenham racecourse. On Monday, I will walk the track and, if there is rain in the meantime, will walk it again on Tuesday.
Anyway, no one should read too much into the fact I will be at Chepstow for just a single spin. I wasn’t originally heading there, but was due to partner four horses for Willie Mullins at Gowran Park.
I throw my leg over King Fontaine in the opener at Chepstow, but am far more hopeful than confident. If reproducing his third to the useful Bensalem on this track, he is entitled to go close.
On the strength of that, he was made a 4-9 chance when returning to that track last time. King Fontaine finished a poor fifth, however, and I was most disappointed with him.
I’ll be pleasantly surprised should he prove capable of winning and, let’s just say, doubt this is going to one of the greatest Saturdays of my life!
Naas tomorrow, hopefully, promises a little bit more. I’d imagine, Sports Line is my best chance in the second, the novice hurdle.
Mind you, this does look fairly competitive, but Sports Line is not a bad horse. He won easily at Punchestown, although that wasn’t much of a race.
He got quite upset before the race, was right on his toes and actually sweated his brains out. On top of that he went and jumped markedly left throughout the contest.
Naas is certain to suit him far better than that inside track at Punchestown and going left-handed is a major plus. I’d say Sports Line will run a big race.
Financial Reward seems to have plenty on off top weight in the novice chase. He was well beaten at Clonmel, when failing to handle the heavy ground.
As well as that we all gave the winner, Hurricane Carter, a freebie in front. Financial Reward would need to come back to the form he showed when winning at Limerick to be given a life now. I’m also hoping, obviously, that the rain stays away.
I’m on Southern Vic for my father in a valuable handicap chase. He is one of four or five horses I could end up riding in the Aintree Grand National and need to get a feel of thim.
He ran well enough in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, until blundering badly at the third last. Southern Vic has his share of weight now, but travelling left-handed will be to his advantage and, if in the first three, I’ll be delighted.
I team up with Ctril Lord in a 25-runner maiden hurdle, but you wouldn’t need to be Einstein to work out his chance is less than apparent.
He’s fit and well and doing his best, but thee’s no doubt this is one of the lesser lights of Willie Mullins’ yard.
Likewise, Mullach Na Si’s prospects wouldn’t appear too obvious in a handicap hurdle. For whatever reason, he ran deplorably at Gowran Park.
The five-year-old is a far better horse then he looked there and is working well at home. I won’t get a heart-attack should he at least finish in the first three.
One other to make a note of at Naas is Willie’s newcomer, Carra Coranna in the Bumper. He’s a Turtle Island, who goes nicely and shouldn’t be too far away.
At Paul’s yesterday morning, I had a sit on Master Minded, Kauto Star and Celestial Halo and they all seemed primed to run real big races next week.
One of the horses I am most looking forward to riding, though, is Willie’s Quevega in Tuesday’s mares’ race. I lost no sleep when hearing Whiteoak was heading for the Champion Hurdle instead and am expecting Quevega to be right on the premises.
