Jim Crowley: I have no doubt he will stay

Jockey and Coral ambassador Jim Crowley discusses the chances of his one ride at Chester on Thursday.

I love riding at Chester, and I have been lucky that I have had some big wins there. I have won two Chester Cups and a Dee Stakes with Not So Sleepy.

It is a track where, if you have gate speed, you can get into a nice position. On the other hand, if you have a hold-up horse, you have to be brave. On soft ground it is a lot easier to ride as everything seems to be strung out turning in. You don’t get the same bunch finishes as you do at other courses.

Thursday

3.15 Chester – Israr

I have one ride on Thursday at the Chester May Meeting on board Israr in the Group Two Ormonde Stakes. This is nice horse who is well bred. He is by Muhaarar, whose horses stay quite well, while he is out of the Oaks winner, Taghrooda. This will be his first start in Group company, and we will find out if he is good enough.

The ground will not be a problem for him as he will enjoy the soft conditions, and I have no doubt he will stay. Hamish and Changingoftheguard are the two horses to beat. The latter was very impressive at this meeting 12 months ago, and Hamish is proven at this level.

We have a nice draw in stall one, which is always a help around Chester. It is a route we took with a horse called Muntahaa a few years ago. He went on to win the Ebor. If he doesn’t win this race, he will find his level, and he could still turn into an Ebor horse later in the year.