Tom Scudamore with his views on his weekend rides

Scudamore sweet on chances of National hope Vieux Lion Rouge

It was good to see Moon Racer’s form take a decent boost in last Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle. You’d have to respect his chance whatever race he goes for at Cheltenham. Nothing’s been ruled out or ruled in with him. I haven’t been down to Pond House this week but I know the owners went down to see him and everyone seems happy with him.

The Grand National weights were unveiled this week and there were no surprises in terms of our leading contender, Vieux Lion Rouge, who runs at Haydock. Obviously I’m hoping that we will still be talking about him as a contender after this weekend.

I rode a nice winner at Fakenham yesterday, The Mighty Don, for Nick Gifford. He showed a great attitude, although he needs to improve his jumping. But the best part of the day came when Guy Disney won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown. We grew up together and he’s one of my closest friends and I’m so proud and pleased for him for what he achieved yesterday.

I have a few rides at Haydock but I’ll try and watch Cue Card at Ascot. If I don’t manage to catch it I’ll watch it when I get home. It looks like a golden opportunity for him. It doesn’t look the strongest Grade 1 and on all known form he should win this.

I ride Most Celebrated in the first at Haydock at 1.30. He was very good at Wetherby and he deserves this step up in class. Don Bersy sets a good standard too but I was seriously impressed with Most Celebrated on his debut and he must have a very good chance. He holds Cheltenham engagements and he’s a horse I like a lot.

I then ride Anteros in the 2.05. He would have a fair bit to find on ratings. He won at Cheltenham during the winter off 125 but has about 20lbs to find with the likes of Aux Ptit Soins and Zarkandar here. Hopefully he might be capable of pulling off a surprise but in reality he has it all to do.

In the 2.40 I ride Big River. He’s a horse I won on a couple of starts back. I was very impressed with him. I don’t know what he beat but he did it well. Things didn’t work out for him last time at Musselburgh but he’s better than that. I think he has a very good chance.