Crowley Calls It: “He’ll have a very good chance in this race”

Champion Jockey Jim Crowley previews his Saturday rides at Haydock and Doncaster exclusively for Coral

I’m now definitely riding Eminent in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Sheikh Hamdan hasn’t anything to run in the race so that’s left the way clear for me to ride Eminent. If Zainhom had won the Greenham, or even run a big race, then he might have run at Newmarket but the way he ran it looks as if he’ll improve for a step up in trip, so will miss the Guineas. Then when the latest forfeit stage was published, there was nothing left of ours in the race, so I knew then that I was free to ride Eminent. I also think my filly in the 1000 Guineas, Talaayeb, has a really good chance as well, so I’m really looking forward to next weekend.

I was really pleased with Muntahaa last Saturday winning the John Porter. It was great to get his head in front. It’s a nice race to win and Sheikh Hamdan was there so it was a great day. Hopefully he’ll go to the Yorkshire Cup now.

In the 2.05 Haydock I ride Early Morning for Harry Dunlop. He’s a nice horse. He’s won first time up a couple of times, he’s won at Haydock, he’s won on Good to Firm and Harry’s horses are running well so hopefully he can run a good race.

I’m doing my lightest weight on Fawaareq in the 2.40. The top horse has stayed in which has kept all the weights down so I’m on 8 stone 8lbs. I’ll be living on fresh air between now and then pretty much. He’s a really nice horse, very progressive, and won his last three starts last year. It’s his first run of the year and his trainer Owen Burrows had his first winner of the season the other day at Yarmouth. He has a very low weight so hopefully he can run a very big race.

When I know I have to ride at my minimum weight for the three or four days leading up to it I will really cut back on what I eat. I won’t eat any carbohydrates, I’ll just eat small bits of protein, and I’ll also up my exercise too. On the morning of the race I will run around the track in a wet sauna suit and then take a pound or two off in the sauna. As long as I get a couple of days’ notice it’s fine. I don’t like to have to sweat too much to lose weight, I’d rather be able to chip away at it over a few days before the race, and that’s what I’ve been doing for Fawareeq. I wouldn’t fancy doing it day in, day out, as that would wreck your head but doing it on occasions with a bit of notice is okay.