One to look out for is River Walk, he’s still a big baby but he’s two from two and a nice type. I think Broadway Joe will make a progressive little chaser in the North for Nick Alexander.
Rose of Siena was beaten by a better one on the day, but I think she should win well in turn.
Ayr was a bit disappointing – hitting the cross bar with quite a few 2nds although again with promise.
Minella Trump finished 2nd at Ludlow yesterday but I didn’t feel he handled the tacky ground too well.
I’m at Sedgefield on Boxing Day where I have seven rides…
This will be my last blog for MansionBet – I’d like to thank them for the support this year and want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sunday 26th December – Sedgefield:
11.45am – Richmond Lake
Richmond Lake is probably one of our nicest Novice hurdlers. He was very impressive at Bangor when I rode him the last time two starts ago, the 2nd has come out and won since and the 3rd has won twice since. He was 3rd at Aintree in a decent Novice and I’d like to think he’d be up to winning this kind of race. He’ll be a very short-priced favourite and, barring a mishap, I’d be disappointed if he isn’t there or thereabouts.
12.15pm – Shoeshine Boy
He’s not a horse I know anything about – it looks an open looking race, he was 2nd at Hexham the last day, just beaten by a neck, so if he can reproduce that form, he should have every chance in a race like this. Barring the Rose Dobbin horse, a lot of these looks fairly exposed.
12.50pm – Blueberry Wine
He’s probably the biggest priced ride I have all meeting. He’s had his wind done since his last run which I felt he needed. If he reproduces his form from two starts ago when he finished 3rd to some decent horses over hurdles at Chepstow, he’ll be in the mix in this race. Again, most of these are exposed but it’s only his second run over fences and I’d like to think he’s an each-way player.
1.25pm – Barnabas Collins
He’s a nice horse – he won his only start for Stuart Crawford and Donald bought him afterwards. The 2nd came out and won its bumper and the 3rd we have, Barrichello – who won a Listed Novice hurdle at Haydock this year. He’s a horse we think a lot of, he’s had a few niggly problems and with covid, he’s not got him started before now. He jumps well and he won’t mind the soft ground, I don’t think the track will be an issue for him. Potential dangers are probably the Dr Newland and Philip Kirby horses. We think he’s one of our nicer horses and are hopeful he’ll be running a big race.
2pm – Creative Control
He was 3rd to Richmond Lake and has won his next two – I was quite impressed with him the last day, the first race he won wasn’t a great race, but the last race was a much better performance by him. The handicapper gave him 5lb which is probably fair, and I’d like to think he’s got a good chance and up to winning off a 5lb higher mark. The majority of these bar The Dancing Poet are fairly exposed.
2.35pm – Oscars Leader
Oscars Leader for Jennie Candlish is not a horse I know very well. Was 3rd beaten 15lengths at Warwick the last day, the winner of that race has come out and won well at Ascot the next day which franks the form. You’d like to think on the back of that run, having been dropped 2lbs and being calmer waters at Sedgefield, he would look to have some sort of chance.
3.10pm – Sweet Auburn
She’s having her first run for us – she’s a filly who fell in her first point to point and then won well the second time out. She goes well at home and is showing plenty to say she’ll be running well in a race like this. There are a couple of interesting horses in it; the Dr Newland horse and Laura Morgan’s Scallywags who is bred by its owner, Mr Radford, who’s associated with horses like Somersby. She’s a 5yo, is fit, and I’m led to believe the trainer is thinking she’ll run well.