On His Own gets my nod for Aintree National
Willie wanted me to ride for him, Paul Nicholls was anxious I go with Neptune Collonges and, of course, there was also my father’s Seabass to consider.
But I had to be very professional about this and just wouldn’t feel comfortable not riding for either Willie Or Paul.
I harbour doubts about Seabass getting four and a half miles in any case, but I’m sure he will give my sister, Katie, a terrific spin.
Likewise, I’m concerned about On His Own travelling left-handed, because I think his form is better going the other way, but am prepared to take a chance on that.
You couldn’t fail to be impressed by the manner in which On His Own won the Thyestes at Gowran Park in January and that race is sometimes a good test for Aintree.
Neptune Collonges is probably well handicapped at this stage, but my worry is that he lacks the tactical speed required for such a test.
Anyway, I’ve made my decision and we will talk about the National in much greater depth next Saturday.
On Monday at Fairyhouse, in the Irish National, I have gone with Willie’s Allee Garde. It is a real pain, though, having to make your mind up for such a major race three days in advance.
The bottom line is that Allee Garde wants good ground and little or no rain. But, by the time we line up on Monday, Fairyhouse could look like a different country, compared to Friday morning.
It was unfortunate the horse fell early in the four mile at Cheltenham, but lucky for me. He could have had a grueller and, instead, will now strip relatively fresh.
Today I’m off to Haydock for just one ride, Pasco, in a two and a half mile handicap chase. People probably think I’m mad going to such trouble to partner a horse who is not getting any younger and doesn’t win very often.
Barry Geraghty and I fly out of Dublin at 6.40 this morning, bound for Leeds. Then I will hire a car and Barry will pay for the fuel.
The guy who hires the car does the driving, so it’s my turn to do the honours. The drive to Leeds will take a little over an hour.
The economics of this sort of behaviour, taken in isolation, don’t make much sense. The flights and car are costly and my fee for Pasco will be £140.
I’m clearly then on a loser, unless Pasco actually goes and wins. But you have to see the far bigger picture and there is every chance, for instance, that I will more than make up for it say at Aintree next weekend.
Pasco’s latest outing saw him finish fifth to Aeriel, which I rode, at Newbury. He ran well for a long time, before fading from the second last. I hope he can keep it up for a bit longer on this occasion.
Tomorrow, I head to Fairyhouse, starting with Tepalo for Tony Martin in a maiden hurdle. Tony tells me this horse won a bumper in France.
He’s been around in a schooling hurdle, but I gather lacks a gear and is probably one for the future, over a longer trip.
Ceol Rua, in a Grade 2 novice hurdle for mares, is one of my best possibilities of a winner. I won on her at Fairyhouse in January, when we hit the front too soon.
She hasn’t been seen since, but I’d imagine Willie had Fairyhouse and Puncehstown in mind for her. Ceol Rua has always worked well and continues to impress in that department.
Her jumping has improved throughout the season and the fact she is small and light would indicate that the ground should not be a problem. I think she has a great, great chance.
I’m on Turban, a puzzling horse, in the other Grade 2 novice hurdle. He’s been disappointing, but is working like a train right now.
He is unlike the vast majority of Willie’s horses. Normally they improve from run to run, but he’s gone backwards and we are baffled by him.
Vesper Bell is capable of a big run in a valuable, but competitive, three mile handicap hurdle. When I saw the horse with 10-12 originally, I went wow, but the weights going up see him on 11-4.
But he’s a fine big sort and it shouldn’t make too much of a difference. He will relish the trip, seems to have got faster on the better ground at home and I’m hopeful.
I partner Devil’s Elbow for my father in another handicap hurdle and he will have an absence of 199 days to overcome.
Dad’s horses are absolutely flying, but he will surely come on for the run and, perhaps, might be a more realistic proposition at Punchestown!
And then we come to the biggie, the Powers’ Gold Cup. This has the makings of a cracker and there will be no hiding place, with Rathlin and Flemenstar in the field.
I’m on Call The Police and he has been mixing it with the best, finishing third to Bobs Worth and First Lieutenant in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham and, prior to that, taking second to Last Instalment at Leopardstown.
Whatever way you look at the race Flemenstar is going to be hard to beat and, to be honest, I wouldn’t mind owning him.
