It’s frustrating not to have O’leary Gigg, but I can still land big Potts

IT’S been a frustrating few months since I lost the Gigginstown job.

I’ve been working hard, schooling and riding out in plenty of yards, but getting very few rides.

It’s tough watching so many horses that I’ve been associated with doing their stuff.

And it’ll be particularly difficult in Navan tomorrow, sitting in the jockeys’ room, watching Apple’s Jade having her comeback run in the Lismullen Hurdle.

She’s won five Grade 1s. I was on her for every one of them. And I sat on her in Gordon’s as recently as last week.

She felt in great order. But, as things have developed with Gigginstown, I’m resigned to watching her from a distance. That said, she should be very tough to beat tomorrow.

On a positive note, I was very lucky to be offered the opportunity to ride the majority of Alan Potts’ horses in England, in addition to having an arrangement to ride for Andrew Brooks, when I’m available.

Next weekend will be huge for me – riding the likes of and

in Cheltenham.

I was really impressed by Finian’s Oscar when he won on his chasing debut in Chepstow last month.

Colin Tizzard and myself agreed it was all about getting him round safely. He was a bit deliberate early. But I used my head and got him jumping and enjoying himself.

I gave him a squeeze at the back of the last. And he showed me plenty of gears.

Chepstow isn’t an easy track for a novice first time. But I really liked the way he coped. That was only the second time I rode him – I had schooled him over four fences. And, hopefully there are plenty of good days ahead with him, starting next Friday.

Fox Norton is due to run in the two-miler on Sunday. He’s another very exciting horse. A seven-year-old, he ended last season with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown.

He beat Un De Sceaux in Punchestown and is a proven, high-class two-miler, although he has been given an entry in the King George.

I’m heading over to Tizzard’s to school both Finian’s Oscar and Fox Norton on Tuesday morning, to give them their final prep for next weekend.

And I’ll probably sit on Vision Des Flos too. He’s a smashing four-year-old. Winner of the Land Rover Bumper in Punchestown for Robert Tyner, he ran a good race when third to Poetic Rhythm in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow on his hurdling debut. And the second Amour De Nuit franked the form in Kempton.

So I’m really looking forward to riding all three horses next week.

Meanwhile, I’m off to Aintree today, for just one ride, in the Rugby Betting At 188Bet Handicap Chase.

This fellow is trained by Venetia Williams and ran second to Rock The World in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and hasn’t run since.

But I’m looking forward to riding him for Andrew Brooks – who has Bid Adieu in training with my Dad – he won in Dundalk recently, has schooled well, and is due to go hurdling in Gowran Park in two weeks. And I have only one ride in Navan tomorrow,

for Paul Nolan, who has given me a few opportunities over the last few weeks.

He’s a nine-year-old and run in the two-mile handicap hurdle. And, realistically, he’ll have to recapture his best form to have a chance.