Hello again! It’s been a while since I last did my blog and I’ve had a busy old summer.

This weekend at Chepstow marks the real start of the jumps season for many. I’m really looking forward to it and to updating you on my rides and views over the course of the season.

Nice to be in front

It’s been a decent start to the season and, as you all know, my goal is always to win the championship. There’s still a lot of work to do, but things are at least going the right way as I close in on 100 winners.

The Skelton team have made a great start to the campaign and really carried on their progression. Harry has pushed me really hard over the first five months and has been snapping at my heels.

They don’t have as many big guns as Henderson or Nicholls yet, but they have lots of firepower and they’re going to keep on getting better.

Then there’s Sam Twiston-Davies, Aidan Coleman, Noel Fehily, Brian Hughes, who’ll all be pushing me this season.

Busy summer

I’ve been well supported by lots of trainers this summer and I’ve been busy racking up the miles with plenty of trips up to Scotland.

Philip Hobbs has got plenty to run over the next few weeks, while I’m really happy about my new association with Warren Greatrex.

Olly Murphy has made a fantastic start to his training career and it’s been pleasing to get lots of nice opportunities for his yard.

Fingers crossed we can all have a good season and keep finding those winners.

Chepstow on Saturday

It’s a busy couple of days at Chepstow with some quality racing to look forward to.

I start the meeting aboard newcomer Vango De Vaige for Phillip in the novices’ hurdle (13:55).

He has never even raced in a bumper so this will be very tough as there look some useful types in here.

This looks the perfect starting point for what is a nice young horse.

I mentioned my new association with Warren Greatrex earlier and I am booked to ride Odello for him in the mares’ novices’ hurdle (14:30)

She was a nice winner of her bumper at Warwick back in November and then probably just got bogged down in the mud on her hurdling debut at Lingfield.

Conditions will be far more favourable here and I expect her to go well as she gave me a nice feel when I schooled her the other morning.

Next up, I’m booked to ride Flashing Glance for Tom Lacey again in the handicap hurdle (15.35).

I rode him three times last month, winning well on one occasion at Stratford, so know him pretty well now.

He seems to be improving with each run and hopefully a strong pace will help him as he can be a bit free going.

The big race of the day is the Silver Trophy (16:10) where I’m really looking forward to getting back on Louis’ Vac Pouch for Philip again.

He improved with every start last season and as a result lines up off a pretty high mark.

There look to be plenty of obvious dangers in this with my eye drawn to Colin Tizzard’s Alary who still has so much potential.

I should also mention fellow Betway ambassador Harry Fry’s Bags Groove who, like my mount, progressed with every run last year. 

My final ride of the day is aboard old friend Rock The Kasbah in the handicap chase (16:45).

He is no stranger to this meeting having finished a good second to Court Minstrel in the Silver Trophy two years ago and having won the novice chase here 12 months ago.

In fact, his course form at Chepstow reads 2211, so he is pretty at home here.

He goes well fresh and the trip and ground should be spot on.

I’m looking forward to riding him and I still don’t think we have seen the best of him over fences yet.

Chepstow on Sunday

Another cracking card where I kick-off aboard Gumball on the juvenile hurdle (13:40).

He was really impressive on his debut at Stratford earlier in the month and I’m expecting him to take a lot of beating even in a better race like this.

Next up, I ride Equus Amadeus for Tom Lacey in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (14:50).

I won on him on his first hurdles start at Uttoxeter last month and hopefully he can go well again.

That said, he is in much deeper waters here and will need to step up to get involved.

Lamb Or Cod is back for more again this season and lines up in the veterans’ chase (15:25).

He is a grand old campaigner who won here back in December.

Sometimes he needs his first run, but on a going day he can be competitive.

The two mile handicap hurdle (16:00) looks really competitive and I ride I’m A Game Changer who was unlucky when squeezed up a bit at Market Rasen last time.

He stuck on really well and that would have put him spot on for this.

Finally, one of my favourite horses in training reappears in the handicap chase (16:35).

I sat on Village Vic the other morning and he feels in great form even though this won’t be easy off his mark of 158.

He never runs a bad race and is one of those horses that makes it worth getting out of bed so early in the morning.