Highs and lows

It’s been an up and down week so far. It definitely started down (quite literally) as I had three falls at Taunton on Monday, with a pulled-up runner sandwiched in-between.

My fifth ride of the day finished sixth, beaten 52 lengths, but to be honest I was pleased just to get round.

Things picked up at Warwick on Wednesday, where I rode a four-timer and March has on the whole been a really good month. Much better than February anyway.

Henderson v Nicholls

There has been quite a lot of attention on the trainer’s title recently and it promises to be an exciting few weeks.

Nicky Henderson is now in the lead and we’ve got Aintree, Ayr and Sandown coming up which will determine who wins it.

Having a good Aintree will be essential, but write Paul Nicholls off at your peril. He has been on the ropes before but always fights back, like he did last year against Willie Mullins.

If Henderson’s Cheltenham horses can perform well at Aintree then he looks to have the upper hand, but it should be a very close battle.

Newbury on Saturday

I’ve got a busy day at Newbury on Saturday with a full book of rides.

I start off on Vieux Lille in the opening handicap chase (1.50pm). He was disappointing last time, but before that was second in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock.

He’s wearing cheekpieces this afternoon to help him concentrate. He schooled well in the week and if he can get it all together he should run well.

Gala Ball is in a similar mould to Vieux Lille in that he also needs to improve his concentration.

He goes in the middle distance handicap chase (2.25pm) and we’re putting a pair of blinkers on him for the first time. This is a very competitive handicap and he’ll need a personal best to win it.

The highlight of the day is the mares’ novices’ final (3.00pm) where I ride Copper Kay, who I have always loved.

I was really pleased with her at Doncaster last time. Although it wasn’t her greatest performance to date, she felt the best she has all year and jumped really well.

Mares are sometimes better in the spring and a fast-run, competitive handicap should bring out the best in her.

We think both the track and trip will suit her really well. This has been the target since Christmas and if she can reproduce her best bumper form she should go close.

There are plenty of dangers. Snow Leopardess was another with very strong bumper form. She’s not been at her best over hurdles so far which could mean she’s well-handicapped.

I’m on Castafiore for Charlie Longsdon in the juvenile hurdle (3.35pm). I won on her at Ludlow two starts back after she had a nasty fall when travelling well at Musselburgh.

They were hoping to run her in the Fred Winter, but she didn’t get in. That shows how highly they rate her and the step up in trip should suit. Don Bersy looks like the one we all have to beat.

Addrastos looks to have plenty on his plate in the novices’ hurdle (4.10pm) taking on some useful rivals, while Tekap is a nice type but is having his first run in the valuable Goffs Sales Bumper (16:45).

It’s a race that is always hard to win and the horses with experience have an advantage.

My final ride of the day is Imperial Presence in the two mile handicap chase (5.20pm). It’s definitely a case of the drier the ground the better for him.

Wincanton on Sunday

I’ve just got the two rides at Wincanton on Sunday.

First up is Frampton in the handicap chase (2.45pm). This is his first start for over 500 days so I’m sure he’ll come on for the run.

Kayf Adventure goes in the novices’ handicap hurdle (3.15pm). He was a bit disappointing last time at Sandown but it was very soft and he got stuck in the mud.

This is hopefully a better race for him and he’s definitely a nice young horse for the future.