Chepstow
12.30pm
Global Fame
This is the first time I have ridden him but he had experience in points and won his bumper on his debut for us at Southwell. He will handle the ground and he looks a pretty exciting horse.
1.05pm
Tiquer
He was pulled up on his return on good to soft, so he clearly needs to improve here, but he will love the ground – all his best form has come in testing conditions – and he is well handicapped if returning to the form of his Newbury win last year.
1.35pm
Elysian Flame
He was a really good and progressive sort on the Flat this year, well suited by this deep ground, and I think we had every reason to be delighted with his hurdling debut at Cheltenham. In fact, he ran an unbelievable race there. He never jumped a hurdle, so he must have some engine to finish as close as he did to good horses. He has done lots of schooling since – I have seen the videos – and he will love this ground, so I don’t think he will be far away if he jumps better here, and hopefully Cheltenham didn’t take too much out of him.
2.10pm
Ask Dillon
He had a couple of hiccups earlier in the season but we have had a good run of it with him in the last six weeks or so, and we think we have got him back. He was a horse we were very excited about going chasing with this season but we have now decided to stick to hurdles after those issues, and save him as a novice for next term. He was progressive last season, he will love the ground, the longer trip will be fine – in fact 3m and soft ground is a massive plus – and I think he can be very competitive off a mark of 137. He is very well.
3.25pm
Ocean Cove
I begged Fergal to run him here instead of Wetherby as I wanted to ride him. This is effectively his first run of the season, as we gave him a break after he finished second at Haydock in May, but he is fit and well, has won in the soft, and I think he has a very good chance.
