Looking back at Ayr last Saturday, I was pleased with Mackenberg getting his head in front again – he’s now won all four of his starts over fences. His jumping was a bit cold to begin with, but he warmed up in the last half of the race. It was a good performance, he liked the ground and is a good, hardy horse who knows how to win races.
Frustratingly I had three close seconds with Silver Flyer, Marown, and Collingham, but all three of them ran their race. They all had a good run round, but each of them just bumped into one better. I think they’ll all be winning in the not-too-distant future.
Silver Flyer is the one which I think will do the best of them all. He had a few issues last year which have since been rectified and, this time out, he really showed us what we knew he could do all along.
General Officer won well at Musselburgh on Wednesday, but it might not have been the strongest contest, so I wouldn’t get too carried away just yet. He did a few things wrong but a lot right too, and he’s a nice horse going forward. Everyone goes to Musselburgh for the good ground and I was disappointed that we were on the Flat track, which had soft ground after being used all summer. Most people travel a long way to get to Musselburgh, so it was disappointing for us not to be going over hurdles on the usual track. If we had been on the normal track, My Brother Jack would have won – no doubt about it. It’s good ground he wants.
Flying Verse is a grand horse, but sometimes it depends which Flying Verse turns upon the day! Thankfully he was on a going day at Musselburgh on Wednesday, and he jumped away and did everything right. It was a good race having come back from a break, especially for an 11-year-old.
Hexham, Friday
I don’t know much about Noplacetobe (1:23 pm) but she’s a Point to Point winner and ran okay at Worcester. She’s had a run whereas the other two fancied in that race haven’t had a run, so hopefully, she will have a fitness edge, and Michael’s [Scudamore] horses have been running well.
Malpas (2:35 pm) was a winner of three hurdles races last year and now takes on fences for the first time. He’s been schooling well at home, and though he fell a few times early on in his career over hurdles, he’s strengthened up a lot and if he puts in a clear round of jumping, I expect him to do well.
I never seem to ride Beat Box (3:10 pm) on a going day! But over hurdles on testing ground seems to suit him, so hopefully, he’ll run well this time.
Again, Howzat Hiris (3:45 pm) isn’t a horse I’m too familiar with, but his third at Wetherby in March reads quite well. In that form, she looks to have a fair chance.
Kelso, Saturday
My top three chances at Kelso on Saturday would probably be Edmond Dantes, Ballyporeen and Brayhill.
I rode Ballyporeen (12:33 pm) in a bumper back in June where he finished third, and he started off his hurdles career with a close-up second at Wetherby last month. That was a decent effort and one that he can hopefully build on.
Edmond Dantes (1:08 pm) looks to be the best of my five rides on the day. He ran well to finish a close fourth on his fourth run of the season and returns off the same mark so should be dangerous.
Brayhill (2:53 pm) has won plenty of Point to Points and a novice hurdle and probably would have won two if not for running out at the last at Carlisle in October. Given he’s got that experience between the flags, I’m hopeful he’ll be suited to this stamina test over fences.
