The Champion Jockey takes us through his rides on Day Two of the 2017 Craven Meeting at Newmarket
In the first at Newmarket, I ride King Robert for Bryan Smart in the 1.50. I haven’t ridden him before but he’s been running well on the all-weather. I’ve had a bit of luck with Bryan over the years. I used to ride a very good horse called Moorhouse Lad for him, who was second in the Prix De L’Abbaye. It’s nice to get the leg up on this horse. Bryan does very well with his sprinters, so hopefully he can run well.
I ride Rodaini in the Free Handicap at 2.25 for Simon Crisford. He won the Flying Scotsman at Doncaster last year and ended the season running at the Breeders Cup, where he disappointed. This is his first run back this season and hopefully he can run a decent race. It’s a competitive race. I’ve ridden Sir Dancealot for David Elsworth, and I think he’s a very good horse. He could be hard to beat. I rode him in the Racing Post Trophy where he was the last horse off the bridle but didn’t quite stay the trip. He’s a very good horse and could be the type for the Commonwealth Cup. Seven Heavens is a good horse too so it’s a very tight little race. Hopefully Rodaini can run well.
In the Earl Of Sefton at 3.00 I ride Berkshire for Paul Cole. I won the Chesham on this horse at Royal Ascot and he also won the Royal Lodge, and then he came back from having almost a year off and won the Darley Stakes at Newmarket. He’s a very talented horse. He’s had his problems over the years. I managed to win a conditions race on him at Windsor last season. Paul said he’s going very well at home. He can race a bit freely, but if he relaxes and if he’s in good form there is no reason why he can’t run a big race. Ten furlongs is probably his best trip so to start off the campaign over 1m 1f is bang on.
In the 4.10 I ride Mraseel for James Tate who has three runners in the race. He’s unraced and I don’t know much about him but James Tate’s two year olds are normally quite clued-up so we’ll see how we go.
In the Maiden Fillies at 4.45 I ride a nice filly called Hadeeqa for Simon Crisford. I’ve ridden work on her, she goes well and is a good looking filly. She’ll probably stay ten furlongs in time but this is a good place to start her over a mile. She’s been training well so hopefully she’ll run a nice race.
Then in the 5.20 I ride Count Calabash for Paul Cole. I really like this horse. I won on him down at Brighton, then he won at Bath, and then I won a nice race at Newmarket on him. He’s a gorgeous horse with plenty of size and scope to him. It’s a competitive race and I’ve also won on Bin Battuta of Saeed Bin Suroor. They are taking the 5lb off his back with George Wood on board. It’s a tight race. Hopefully my horse will be on the scene, but the horse I fear most is Bin Battuta.
