Riding a treble last Saturday night at Chelmsford was great. David Simcock had made those plans for the horses and it worked out nicely. The two year old, Dragon Mall, did it well and is one to look forward to, and the other two Doctor Sardonicus and Majeed got the jobs done too. I had expected them all to be there or thereabouts, they had good runs going in to the race, they’d been training well and David’s horses are in good form, so you get great confidence when everything’s aligned like that. It’s nice to ride a few winners especially when you’re expected to, as it doesn’t always work out like that.
The season’s going well. I’m just going out and giving it my best and as long as you have a positive mind-set about the whole thing the winners will come. When you’re riding a 33/1 chance and it’s got no form, then it’s clearly not as exciting as when you’re riding horses with good chances and close to favouritism. You just have to go along with it. There are peaks and troughs. Basically for the last month my midweeks have been quiet and weekends have been busy, and I’m riding winners. I suppose that’s what counts. The Saturday winners are the ones that count most. But you’ve got to do the midweek work too. It’s not so exciting but you have to go along with it.
Today at Ascot I ride Elusive Guest in the first at 2.20pm. It looks a new trip for him. He’s dropping back to seven furlongs having won his maiden at a mile. He’s been a bit in and out this year, but it’s an open race and he has a squeak. It will be interesting to see how the draw works out in terms of the rest of the weekend.
I’m on George Cinq for Michael in the second at 2.50pm and this would be at the outer limits of his stamina so he’ll need covering up and to arrive late in the last furlong as he doesn’t do much in front. He’ll like the ground. Fast ground over seven furlongs is ideal for him but he gets a mile on good ground. It’s a 90 classified so he fits in well at the weights. I think my fella has a chance.
Them And Us is my ride in the 4.35pm. He’s had a good year and won a few, at Epsom and Newmarket, but he’s no rated 88 and the handicapper seems to have him where he wants him. I thought Flying Hammer would be hard to beat. He did well to win last time as he got caught on heels at Kempton and just got out and came home just to win. He’s only gone up 6lbs but looks value for it. That’s probably the big danger but Them And Us always runs a good race and with a bit of luck will be in the first three again.
I really like my ride in the 5.10pm, The Cashel Man, for David Simcock. I’ve never ridden him before but I’ve followed his progress throughout the year. He’s won three from four but arguably it should have been four from four, he just got to the front too early at Lingfield and gave the chance to the horse to come and nail him. He’s a typical slow burner, that improves and improves as the year goes on, and he’s coming in to this race off a good win at Newmarket where he beat a Sir Mark Prescott horse that has gone on and won twice since. The big thing too is that at this time of year the three year olds are still getting 11lbs from the four year olds and over. He’s a strong horses so it weighs big in his favour at this stage of the year. Burmese probably looks the danger but I’ll be disappointed if The Cashel Man can’t take care of these. Two miles will be perfect for him and the ground should be fine.
