It’s all new.. but season won’t be flat

A new season. A new job. A new agent. And a new challenge.

I have two rides on World Cup night in Meydan today before heading home overnight to ride in Naas tomorrow, when the new Irish season starts. I’m really looking forward to my new role as stable-jockey to Fozzy Stack, in addition to retaining my links with the boss (Kevin Prendergast) and hoping to continue my association with all the trainers who have supported me over the years. And I’m facing into the challenge with a new agent, Kevin O’ryan. Tomorrow, I have six booked rides, two for Fozzy and two for the boss. And I’m looking forward to riding AUSSIE VALENTINE for Paul Deegan in the Tote Irish Lincoln, a race we won with Sruthan 12 months ago. Aussie has been second in the Lincoln twice. I sat on him on Tuesday morning. He felt in good nick. And I’d say his run in Dundalk last month might be a huge help to him. We got the draw we wanted, in the middle of the field. And we know he handles soft ground. So I think he ticks a lot of the boxes. The Weld horse SIKANDARABAD looks a worthy favourite. And Pat (Smullen) is drawn beside me. But I have high hopes for Aussie. GREAT MINDS, my mount in the six-furlong handicap, is another horse that’s proven in soft ground. He won a couple of listed races in the spring of 2015, and this race, at the Curragh, a year earlier. But he’s coming back after a long lay-off. I’ve sat on him twice in the last few weeks and feel he retains plenty of his ability. So he should run well in a race where MIZAAH has a definite chance. I won the Madrid on our Guineas winner Awtaad last year. And I’ll be on GINO SEVERINI for Fozzy, from 1lb out of the handicap, in tomorrow’s race. He’s lightly-raced, but works nicely. And, hopefully, he’ll run a good race, to tell us where we’ll be going with him. I’ll be on Mick Mulvany’s DEW LINE in the Group 3. We know she handles the ground but, on ratings, she has a bit to find.