Aintree – Saturday
12.20pm
Champagne Mystery
He was knocking on the door over hurdles last season and was a touch unlucky not to get his head in front. He is a free-going horse, so we will let him get to the first and decide from there, but he has schooled really well and has done everything right in the lead-up to his chasing debut. He should go nicely.
2.10pm
Top Notch
He finished third to Paisley Park in the Long Walk first time out last season and he also occupied the same position when a close last of three in this race in 2017, so that augurs well for his chances here. As does the fact he hasn’t won over hurdles for a fair while, so he isn’t penalised. We also know what a high-class chaser he is – as he showed when beating Black Corton at Kempton in January – and he is a horse that goes well when fresh, so I think you have to be pretty positive about his chance. The trip is obviously fine and he should be fine whatever the weather does, as he is versatile on that score and has plenty of form in the soft. It is always good to ride for the owners and I am well aware this is Daryl’s favourite horse, so I better look after him!
3.50pm
Quick Draw
I literally know nothing about him at the moment but Tom’s horses are always straightforward, well-prepared and well-bred, so hopefully he can give me a good spin around.
Sandown – Sunday
1.50pm
Keen On
We waited and waited for the slower ground for him in the spring, and he ran well when second at Perth in June on his debut. I think he will appreciate the test of Sandown in heavy ground over this trip, and he jumps well, and has done everything we have asked of him at home.
2.25pm
Santini
Talkischeap ran away with the bet365 Gold Cup off a mark of 145 here in April and we have to give him 2lb, so Santini certainly doesn’t face an easy talk on his comeback, for all this race is clearly very low on numbers. As everyone will probably know, Santini had a far from trouble-free preparation going into the Festival, so you had to be delighted and thrilled with his close second in the RSA, for all it was mightily annoying at the time. He clearly has it in him to take high rank in the staying chases this season, so hopefully he can win here and set us up nicely for the rest of the campaign. I have ridden him in his last two pieces of work, and they have really sharpened him up. The track and ground will suit, so hopefully he can follow in the footsteps of Coneygree and Might Bite, who both won this race for me. It’s a good starting point but Talkischeap will be no pushover, and the two others, notably Steely Addition, certainly aren’t no-hopers, either.
