Three weeks exactly from when I fell at Kempton, and I’m back riding. My first day back in the saddle will be at Ascot tomorrow where I have three rides. The recovery has gone as well as I could have hoped – It’s been invaluable having the Peter O’Sullevan Injured Jockeys’ Fund gym in Newmarket to rehabilitate. I have been able to maintain my fitness well in the hydro pool and I feel ready to be back riding!
I have been on ITV Racing at Newmarket’s July Course which has been great fun – it’s such a fun team to be on air with and despite the wet weather yesterday, the racing was fantastic and I was thrilled to see Hollie (Doyle) win a Group 2 for Ed Vaughan.
Saturday: Ascot
12:25 Ascot – The Bay Warrior
My first ride back is for Mark Usher. THE BAY WARRIOR is a two-year-old I’m yet to sit on. Only two of the 12 runners have had any run before so it would probably be a race that is best watched. The Bay Warrior is by first season sire The Gurkha who was an excellent miler for Aidan O’Brien.
1:30 Ascot – Landue
LANDUE is a horse I know well and really like. He’s a lovely horse who I have won three times on. He likes it here at Ascot and he looks ready to win! I really am looking forward to riding him. The soft ground will hold no fears for him too.
Hayley is most looking forward to riding LANDUE at Ascot tomorrow
3:50 Ascot – Saheeq
This is always a hot handicap at Ascot and normally run at a very fast tempo. The stiff finish at Ascot means you need to have a horse, particularly in this ground, that sees out the five furlongs really well. SAHEEQ (33/1) has won over 5f and 6f so he ticks that box but I think this looks a very hot renewal. I am drawn 1 (far side) so hopefully there is some pace that can give me a good toe into the race.
Saturday: Newmarket
Elsewhere, I really like GOLDEN HORDE (9/4) in the July Cup at Newmarket. I was really impressed by his win at Ascot and he looks like a beast of a sprinter. He will get the three-year-old allowance which I think will make him very hard to beat.
*All odds correct at time of writing.