Tom Scudamore wouldn’t swap Kings Palace for anything else

I’m on Soll in the 1.50pm. He’s a ten year old and ran a good race in the Grand National. He won a couple of nice races last year but as a result he’s much higher in the weights now than when he started last year. He’ll love the trip and you know what you’re going to get from him. There may be something in the field with younger legs who’ll beat him but at least you know what you’re going to get from him.

Kings Palace my mount in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.25pm has schooled well. I’m very pleased with him. I wouldn’t swap him for anything else in the race. Yes I respect the others. Monetaire is a very good horse.

He’s a good handicapper. But generally this race is won by horses who step up from handicaps to graded races, and this time last year we believed Kings Palace was a graded horse, and nothing we’ve seen since has changed that opinion of him. Irish Cavalier is another that fits that mould. He’s not flashy and yet his form since he won at Cheltenham has improved again. He’s gone from handicap company to graded company and ran two great races at Punchestown, and last time out he absolutely hosed up. He’s only six and when these horses start improving they can keep progressing. He’s a similar profile to Kings Palace in that both he and Kings Palace could step out of handicap company and mix it in top company.

Next Sensation for my brother has to prove he stays 2 and a half miles. I’ve always felt that he would get this trip. He’s a very enthusiastic two mile chaser but if he gets two and a half miles then he’s got a chance and he’s probably over-priced.

I ride Batavir in the 3.00pm. Last year I was a little bit disappointed with him at Leicester as I thought he’d win. He then won much better races at Ascot and Wincanton before disappointing me at Doncaster. He wasn’t at his best that day but I took on a horse of Nicky Henderson’s that day that kept on going. That horse was Call The Cops who went on to win at the Festival so there was no disgrace in that. I think he’s got a good chance. I sat on him during the week and was pleased with him. He looks the ideal horse for this race.

Gevrey Chambertin also runs in the race. He hasn’t been in the best form of late but ran better last time at Newton Abbot. He has the ability to do it and is coming back down in the weights. He is an enigmatic character. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him win. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him finish last.

Hebert Park in the 3.35pm is my last ride of the day. He beat Qualando around Exeter which turned out to be a hell of a run. I was a little bit disappointed when he was then beaten around Taunton. It wouldn’t have suited him though and the horse that beat him went on to win more races. Herbert Park then finished the season winning at Kempton. We always tend to run a nice horse in this race so hopefully Hebert Park will be one of those.

On Sunday I ride Bidourey in the Greatwood Hurdle. He really surprised me last year as he won at Ffos Las with a penalty and then wasn’t that impressive when he won at Fontwell. But then every run he kept on improving. He didn’t run his race in the Imperial Cup but he’s one of those horses that is nothing flashy, nothing special, but he wins. Let’s hope he keeps that going on Sunday. It’s a tough race. He shouldn’t be underestimated.

Tom