Scudamore Says: “The way my horse is improving I can see him running a big race”

Tom Scudamore takes us through his Cheltenham Day Three rides…

West Approach is my opening ride tomorrow in the Stayers’ Hurdle. We’ll all be hoping we can repeat what we did last year with the same jockey, trainer and owner combination as Thistlecrack. He’s had a fantastic season so far. He’s improved with each run. He will have to step up again to win this. He was running a great race in the Long Walk Hurdle before being brought down. He ran third here on his last start where he really gave Unowhatimeanharry a good race.

Obviously the conditions will be different this time around, but the way my horse is improving I can see him running a big race. Obviously I am not going there half as confident as I was on his half-brother last year, but we will be in the shake-up. I have always thought my horse will want better ground, but Unowhatimeanharry does set a very high standard. The other horse I would not rule out is Jezki.

In the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Plate I am on Starchitect. He came to us last year. He is not bred to be a chaser and it has taken a little time to work things out over fences. He has got better with practice. His last run around Ayr was the slickest he has been. He’ll have to come on from that run but we fancy our chances. I am sure Gordon Elliott will be saying the same thing about Diamond King. It looks a very competitive race but we have a good record in it.

David Pipe has three runners in the Kim Muir with La Vaticane, Doctor Harper and Father Edward. If I was riding in the race I would want to be on Doctor Harper. He is very in and out though. If he is on a good day then he has a very good chance. La Vaticane is the more consistent horse, while Father Edward really does have to bounce back. If things go right for Doctor Harper I would expect him to get into the frame.