Crowley calls it: “Mokaatil can bounce back at Sandown”

If you go back through this horse’s form he was second to Expert Eye at Newbury. The third horse of Brian Meehan’s went on to win the Richmond Stakes. My horse won a nice race at Chester last year. He is a talented horse, it’s his first run of the season and I thinkhe’ll run very well. I could have ridden Tadbir, who didn’t handle the soft ground at Epsom last year. He will prefer a return to better ground.

4.25 Sandown – Ibraz

Ibraz is a really nice horse. He won at Nottingham last time out and won well. He’ll have a good chance in this race. It’s a competitive race. I could have ridden Deyaarna as he’s one of the boss’s horses as well and Mahaarat, but decided to pick Ibraz.

5.00 Sandown – Mutanaqel

He’s having his first run of the year. He’s a good horse by Havana Gold. He ran okay at Chelmsford on his last start. He’s been gelded since and has been working nicely at home. We are hoping for a good run.

5.35 Sandown – Precision

I don’t know too much about him. He has a nice pedigree but was beaten at Chester last time. We’ll see how we go.

SUNDAY

3.25 Salisbury – Wohileh

She’s a nice bay filly by Cape Cross. She’s been working nicely. It’s always hard to know exactly what to expect but she’s ready to go. Hopefully she’ll run well.

3.55 Salisbury – Khafooq

I haven’t ridden this colt by Kodiac. I was at Sir Michael’s last week riding a few but didn’t sit on Khafooq. Sir Michael always leaves something to work with so we will see how he goes.

4.25 Salisbury – Shabaaby

I thought he ran very well last time. He was third in a decent listed race. I didn’t ride him that day. He’s been working well and I think he’s got a really good chance. He’s rated 106 and is the top rated horse in the race. I could have ridden Mokarris. He’s been off the track a long time but is a good horse.

5.25 Salisbury – Open Wide

He has top weight and the thing about this horse is that he’s so consistent he doesn’t get much respite from the handicapper. He won there last year. I have only ridden him once before. He’s been second twice at Windsor this year and deserves to win as he’s been banging on the door.

ROYAL ASCOT

I am really looking forward to next week at Royal Ascot. I ride Battaash in the King’s Stand which I’m really excited about.

There’s Afaak in the Royal Hunt Cup, Emiraaty in the Jersey Stakes. Gabr in the St James Palace’s Stakes is another I ride which is under the radar a bit.

I can’t wait.

Jim