Jim Crowley: He should go very close after his Newbury win

Jockey and Coral ambassador Jim Crowley discusses the chances of his five rides at Haydock on Saturday.

Haydock 2.25 – Kathab

My first ride on a busy day is on Kathab, a horse I’ve always liked, and who deserved to get his head in front last time, albeit in a race he was fully entitled to win. He’s a big, long-striding galloper, so Haydock’s long straight should really suit him, as will this going.

As I say, I’ve always thought plenty of him, and he perhaps didn’t progress early on this season as I would have hoped, but now he’s got his head in front, it could do his confidence the world of good, and if he can improve again, it’s not hard to see him being involved at the business end.

Haydock 3.00 – Al Aasy

Al Aasy is a horse who’s been called a few names in the past, but I’ve always had a soft spot for him, and at his best he’s run some massive races in top company. We dropped him back in trip to 10 furlongs last time, and that really helped him, he’s not short of pace and he ultimately ended up winning well at Newbury.

That was a Listed race, so he’s stepping up a level to Group 3 here, and as you’d expect it’s a more competitive looking race, but again, the track and ground will suit him, and if he’s in the form he was at Newbury – and there’s no reason why he won’t be – he should go very close.

Haydock 3.35 – So Farhh So Good