Jamie Spencer looks forward to Investec Oaks Day at Epsom

Epsom is basically like Chester in that if you are riding the right horses you look forward to it, if you’re riding horses with no chance it’s a horrible experience. It’s all about the horses that you’re riding. If you’re on a moderate horse going backwards it’s like bowling pins you just get wiped out by the horses going by you. As the horse gets tired it just can’t keep its balance.

When you’re riding a good horse that’s travelling well around Epsom it’s like everything happens in slow motion. When you ride a horse that’s not travelling well and you have to squeeze and push, it’s like when you’re running downhill and you’re going too fast for your legs and you start nearly kicking yourself up the backside. You literally feel like you’re going to fall over. That’s what it’s like when you’re not travelling well around Epsom and you’re not balanced and it feels uncomfortable.

In the first I ride a really nice filly Just The Judge in the 1.35pm. At Goodwood last year she stumbled coming out of the stalls in the Nassau and ripped half her foot off and basically came back with no shoe and most of her hoof missing. So there was an excuse there. She then had to heal and get over that and then she just wasn’t right in her last run and you’ve just got to forgive her that. But before that she was second in the 1000 Guineas, won the Irish Guineas and then third in the Coronation Stakes all in the space of a few weeks, and possibly that took it out of her and in the second half of the season she just wasn’t as good. But she still had excuses for the poor form in the second half of the season. So I’m not too bothered about that.

On her first run this season she finished fifth of nine and ran adequately without being too exciting but it was a good race against the colts. At home she has been a little bit lethargic this year but when she went to Epsom the other morning she worked with her lead horse that she normally beats a length or a length and a half and she absolutely hammered him. Going to the track was a good idea to as it lit her up and she is going really well. I’m really looking forward to riding her. I think she’s got a big chance. Thistle Bird ran well enough at York but I thought she’d run better. The race sets-up nicely for Just The Judge. There’s pace there and she should get a nice position, she travels well and she’s well balanced so you’d have to be very, very hopeful.

In the 2.10pm I ride Charles Camoin and he would have a good each way chance. He’s won at the meeting before and looks well handicapped on a mark he’s won off before. I think Soviet Rock is the one to beat. He’s a decent horse and he clearly needed his first run and then won last time.