Scudamore says: “Black Op has an outstanding chance”

He is coming along nicely, he should handle everything, track, conditions, trip, and I think he has an outstanding chance.

I’ve ridden for Roger Brookhouse for many years and won plenty of nice races for him, including an Arkle and an Imperial Cup. He’s always been good to me and we’ve had a successful association.

3.35 Cheltenham – Court Minstrel

This is a really nice spare ride to pick up on an old favourite like Court Minstrel on his first step up to three miles. It was only three runs ago that he beat Sam Spinner in a race around Chepstow and that form has worked out well. He had Wholestone behind him that day. Obviously that was a handicap and this is a Graded race but I think we’ve only got about 8lbs to find which isn’t an awful lot.

He’s eleven years old, and not getting any younger, but now is the time to try him at the trip.

It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility for him to figure. I’ve ridden against him loads of times and he was good enough to win a Scottish Champion Hurdle at two miles at one point.

He looked at one stage like he was going to make a decent novice chaser, but didn’t hit the heights over fences as he has over hurdles.

It’s a very tight little race. Beer Goggles is going to have plenty of supporters, for obvious reasons, and he would be a fitting winner after the very sad events this week.

I have had a bit of success for Evan over the years, and he’s a good bloke to ride for. He’s very loyal to the jockeys that ride for him, but as they are unavailable for one reason or another to ride Court Minstrel, I’m really pleased to have been given the call up to ride him. If he can run to his best form over this new trip then he will have a squeak.

4.10 Cheltenham – Eddiemaurice

He has been very consistent. I rode him when he was fourth at Ascot and he would have been closer but for nearly getting brought down at the second last.

We then bumped into Kayf Grace around Kempton last time. He always runs his race but holds no secrets from the handicapper so is likely once again to be there or thereabouts. He deserves to win a nice race but you just don’t know if there will be something better handicapped in the race.

Sunday

4.00 Fontwell – The Draconian

He hasn’t shown an awful lot. I rode him around Ludlow where he finished well down the field. He is going to have to improve an awful lot to figure.

Tom