Scudamore says: “I feel we can still be competitive with Starchitect”

3.30 Cheltenham – Poker Play

Things didn’t quite go right for him last season. He came over from France and he just took a little bit of time to settle in. He ran okay in the Fred Winter but has been going nicely at home. 

We will find out more about him in this and the step up in trip should really suit him. I think he has a good each-way chance.

4.00 Cheltenham – Moonlight Escape

She won nicely at Galway last time. It was a sixteen runner field round there so the nature of this race and Cheltenham shouldn’t be a problem for her. She probably has a little bit to find with a few of the protagonists but she has shown a decent level of form and is a good ride to pick up. 

Sunday

2.25 Cheltenham – Vaniteux

He ran okay first time out for us. He is probably caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment.

He deserves to take his chance in this graded class but he’s 14/1 for a reason. On his best form you’d give him an each-way chance. We are still learning about him, so it’s a bit of a fact finding mission to find out more about him.

He has not been quite good enough to beat the top boys at this level but then he is also weighted accordingly for running well in good company.

He is going to give the lads who own him a lot of fun in some big races, as he’s a rattling good Saturday horse. 

3.00 Cheltenham – Misterton

This is a good spare ride to pick up. I found out on yesterday that I would be riding him.  His win at Chepstow last time was good.

All the conditions are right for him. It will be the first time that I have ridden for Harry Fry. I will have to carry 10 stone so I went for a long run this morning.

By the time Sunday comes along I will be a skeleton. I will be very disappointed if it not worth it though.

Thistlecrack

I had a sit on Thistlecrack last Saturday. It was really nice to get back on him. I didn’t open up the engine or anything but he seemed very happy and on good terms with himself.

At the moment it’s all systems go and he felt like he had all his usual form about him. It’s always so excited to sit on him. Colin and Joe know where he is at, and it was just a pleasure to get back on him again.

It’s all going well generally too. David’s horses are running well and to open up this meeting with a winner was tremendous. I had a couple of winners on Thursday, and then won the Cross Country race for my brother yesterday on Kingswell Theatre which was brilliant, so I couldn’t be happier with how things are going.  

Tom