Hoping for a Uttoxeter Tonic with Mellysse
Let’s start with Uttoxeter, where I have two possibilities, with Tonic Mellysse, in a beginners’ chase, easily the best of them.
He won a decent hurdle at Ayr last season and is not a bad horse, who will appreciate the good ground.
His last run was in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot and he made no show, finishing 15th of the 16 runners.
That’s hardly a ringing endorsement, but this is an entirely different proposition. The surface was simply too soft for him then and he will be more at home in a far weaker affair.
Balding Banker is hard enough to fancy in a maiden hurdle. I rode him one day behind Darlan at Cheltenham and this is certainly a drop in class.
But he made absolutely no show at Fakenham last time, beaten miles, and the only hope we have is that it was a blip! As soon as I hop off Tonic Mellysse, I will jump into a car and head for Stratford. Paul Nicholls’ assistant, Dan Skelton, will be doing the driving.
I’m going to Stratford to partner a horse called Whisky Yankee in the bumper. He carries the colours of Dai Walters, the man who owns Oscar Whisky and, of course, Ffos Las racecourse.
I’m told the journey will take about an hour and 20 minutes and I’m set to arrive with some 25 minutes to spare.
I know nothing about Whisky Yankee, except that he was a remote third at Warwick on his debut in January. The only reason I’m going to make my way to Stratford is that Paul felt it was worthwhile.
I’m off to Limerick tomorrow for three rides, but there is clearly no stand-out and I will be facing the meeting more in hope than confidence.
I start on Captains Dilemma for Henry de Bromhead in a maiden hurdle. He ran well enough to finish fifth at Cork and has to have a fair chance.
I’ve ridden plenty of winners for Henry, including Sizing Europe. Mind you I did manage to put the horse on the floor one day over hurdles at Punchestown.
Considering how good a jumper Sizing Europe is, you would have thought that would have been next to impossible! Next up is False Economy for Michael Hourigan, another for whom I’ve enjoyed my share of success, in a conditions hurdle.
I won a race on him one day at Ballinrobe and my memory is that he is quick and sharp. His last outing was when taking seventh on the all-weather at Dundalk and, realistically, is no more than an each-way shot.
I finish on Your Busy for Ronan O’Gara and James Nash in a Grade 2 novice chase. He jumped and travelled well for a long way in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, but probably has it all to do in this league.
The past week has been very quiet and it will be more of the same for a little while at least. I’ll probably be at Thurles on Tuesday and Clonmel on Thursday, but won’t have great expectations.
Right now Willie Mullins is getting all of his best horses primed for the forthcoming meetings at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
And it is the same story across the water with Paul Nicholls, who is very much focusing on Aintree and Ayr.
