Jamie Spencer hoping Buckstay can run them down in Wokingham

I ride Isomer in the Chesham at 2.30. He was beaten by Cunco first time out. I thought he would have beaten Cunco if he hadn’t hit the front so early. It was a really good run and he only just got run down late on. He hit the front two and half furlongs out which is a long way from home at Newbury. I used to ride his sire Cape Blanco and I used to ride his dam too, so I know the family well. Hopefully he goes there with a chance. There should be improvement in him and he has an each way shot. It looks a strong enough race. Churchill is a logical starting point with Aidan targeting the race with this son of Galileo.

In the Wokingham I ride Buckstay at 5.00. He has a good draw based on what’s happened all week. He has plenty of weight but there are five horses on top weight and it’s a really tight band handicap and he goes there with a good chance. Hopefully he’ll get a strong pace to run at. I felt like he should have won the Ayr Gold Cup last year. He finished fifth that day and was a bit unlucky. He got stopped in his run. That’s a flatter six furlongs than here, and with the softish ground too and stiff track, it should play to his stamina strengths and he’ll be coming home good. I just hope he can get there in time.

I could have ridden Brando, the favourite. I just felt Buckstay has got the T-shirt whereas Brando is the young horse coming through. Buckstay has been running in these types of races over the last couple of years and wins one or two so he goes there with a good chance. It’s always tricky but you can’t split yourself in two and you want the best for everybody. Kevin always understands and if Buckstay doesn’t win I hope Brando wins and vice versa.

I ride Shades of Silver in the last. It’s got plenty to find on the ratings, so we’ll just have to see. I think Oriental Fox will be hard to beat having won the race last year and he has a nice draw in six.

Jamie