Frustrated spectator
I’M gutted to be missing the rides on Fox Norton and Finian’s Oscar in Sandown today.
It’s been a long two weeks since I hurt my shoulder on Sizing Tennessee in Ascot. I’ve missed two weekends, but nothing to compare with what I’m missing today.
My shoulder has been improving and getting stronger. And although I’ve ridden out for Jessie Harrington and Mouse Morris this week, my surgeon isn’t 100% happy yet.
So I’ll be glued to the TV, very disappointed I’m missing the ride on Fox Norton in the Tingle Creek, a spin I’d been looking forward to since he won the Schloer Chase at Cheltenham so impressively.
And, realistically, with no Douvan to worry about, a clear round should see Fox Norton land the spoils in what looks a more straight-forward Tingle Creek than we’ve seen for a good few years.
He was very good at Cheltenham. He produced a great round of jumping and won as he liked.
I felt he’d improve from that run. And he appears to have an easy enough task today when ‘Puppy’ (Robbie Power) is re-united with him – he’s unbeaten on the horse, having won Grade 1’s in Aintree and Punchestown last season.
I was surprised to hear Finian’s Oscar was running in the Grade 1 Henry VIII because it involves dropping back to two miles.
I was very happy with him when he beat Movewiththetimes in Cheltenham three weeks ago, over an extended two and half. I felt he needed that trip and only got on top late on.
So I’m not convinced coming back to two miles, particularly around Sandown, is ideal.
He’s running against some proper two-milers, the likes of BRAIN POWER, a horse with Champion Hurdle form and impressive, although beating very little, on his chasing debut in Kempton.
Sandown takes plenty of jumping. And I’d be worried the speed-horses in the race could put Finian’s Oscar on his head early.
I think he lacks a gear over two miles. But if he’s close enough turning for home, he’ll outstay them.
It’ll certainly be a fascinating race. Another horse to watch is AINCHEA in the opening novice hurdle. He’s a lovely Flemensfirth four-year-old and ran a very good race on his debut in a Cheltenham bumper six weeks ago.
I’m expecting plenty of improvement from him and rate him a horse with a bright future.
At home tomorrow, I think SIZING JOHN, almost ready to run two weeks ago, will have the measure of DJAKADAM (racing over his best trip of two and a half miles) again in the Durkan at Punchestown.
I thought he did well to get back up to beat Djakadam in the Punchestown Gold Cup. I’ve seen him in Jessie’s and he looks very well.