Kirby Calls It: All Weather champion previews Lingfield

Lingfield

I just have the two spins today at Lingfield but both have really good chances of collecting. I ride Pathway To Honour for Mr Appleby in the 2:25. He’s been running well, he bumped into one too good the last time, beaten by a good one from Godolphin but he travelled around nicely, looked a winner, picked up in the straight and ran all the way to the line but as I say was just beaten by one too good on the day. He’s a nice horse and is due to win shortly. He’s been second on three occasions but I wouldn’t be put off by that, I just think he needs holding up, needs to relax and then produce a big finish. When he’s been ridden handy, he hasn’t shown his best. Looking at the race I think it’s between my horse and the bottom horse, Reetaj, trained by Mr Chapple-Hyam. There’s very little between them on official ratings. But if everything goes right for my horse, I think he has a really good chance of winning.

My other ride is aboard Gabrial’s Wawa in the last race at 4:45. He’s in great form and has been running well, winning his last two starts. He won well the last time but he’s up in the handicap so it’s possible he’s going to need everything to go his way. He does need pace in the race, needs to relax in order for him to pick up in the straight. I half thought the first time I rode him that he was a bit quirky but he’s bounced back from that, his confidence is up and I really think he’ll give a good account of himself. Looking at the race, I think they’re a moderate bunch so hopefully he has one more race in him. I think the opposition will have to be on song, because if my horse turns up in the same form he was in two weeks ago, he should be hard to beat.

Although I’ve only the two rides, there’s a chance of a double. If Mr Appleby’s horse puts his best foot forward and if Wawa is still in good form, both will be hard to beat.

Coral Winter Derby

It may be a month off but the Winter Derby is shaping up to be a cracking race. The one that sticks out for me is Grendisar. He’s a nice horse, always runs his race providing he gets his way. He’s a hardy horse. He’s been given a break and it’s easy to see why he is the current favourite as I’m sure he’ll put up a bold show. I won on him the last time but I’m not sure if I’ll be riding him in this race as Mr Appleby has got one in it. Tryster is in good form, he won well on his last start. He’s got a bit to find on official ratings, so I wouldn’t say he’ll win but he’s entitled to be in that grade. Looking at the entries, it’s incredibly competitive. Slide Glance is a very good horse; he races all around the world! The same applies to Captain Cat, I think he may have a minor quirk or two to him but on his day he’s very good. He’s won round Lingfield before. I think Grandeur runs next Saturday, he won the big Coral race on Finals Day last year and is obviously being aimed at the Winter Derby. The thing that is worrying me is that if Coral traders have Mr Appleby’s priced at 14/1, how good are the others? It looks a really good race and very open. If I wasn’t riding Tryster, I’d like to ride Grendisar because I know him. I know he’s hardy, I know when you pick him up and lift him, I know he goes.