He ran really well in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last Sunday to finish third, and he has come out of the race well.
He is in good order at home, so why not have a crack at it? He has to give weight away to everything, and If The Cap Fits and We Have A Dream are young and progressive, but he still goes there with a chance.
Two and a half miles at Ascot should suit him well. I rode him over three miles in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby earlier this month, and he ran well to finish second. And he ran well last week over two miles. You know that he is always going to give you a shout. He has great owners, and he will always give his all, over any distance.
I am also looking forward to riding San Benedeto again in the two-mile handicap chase. The handicapper might have him at his ceiling, but he is another who always goes out there and gives his all.
He ran well last time to finish third in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. He was right there when he just pecked a little at the third last, and he just got tired from there. Ozzie The Oscar was second that day, and we are 3lb better off with him, so there shouldn’t be much between us again.
I hope that he can run well for his owners, Mr and Mrs Vogt. Hopefully we can get a clear run and stay out of trouble. The way that he always tries, he always gives himself a chance.
I also ride Malindi Bay for James Evans in the mares’ handicap hurdle. I have never ridden her, but she didn’t run badly at Carlisle last month. She wasn’t going badly when she made a mistake at the third last flight. It’s an open race, but I hope that she can run well.
Uttoxeter on Sunday will reacquaint me with Oh Land Abloom, and I’m looking forward to it.
I’m off to Uttoxeter on Sunday for two rides, both for Neil, Little Millie in the mares’ handicap hurdle and Oh Land Abloom in the two-mile-seven-furlong handicap hurdle.
Little Millie finished third in a mares’ handicap hurdle at Worcester in June behind Timeforben, who has progressed since then, winning once and finishing second three times.
Little Millie hasn’t run since then, but she should be fairly straight. She will race off the same handicap rating of 113, and that looks fair.
I haven’t ridden Oh Land Abloom in a race, but I have schooled him a couple of times at home, and he has gone well. He was well beaten on his debut this season in a novices’ handicap chase at Worcester last month. Hopefully he will come on for that, and he goes back over hurdles now.
He ran well at Fontwell last March to finish second to Kris Spin, who won again next time off a 7lb higher mark, and a repeat of that run would give him a chance.
