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THE focus for me this weekend is Ascot tomorrow when I have two rides in valuable chases. Both have chances.
FOX APPEAL (4.15) runs in the grandnational2017.com Veterans’ Handicap Chase and ticks lots of boxes.
He’s relatively fresh, having not run since January, likes Ascot and will appreciate this drying ground.
He won a Grade Two here a few years back and has also been placed in some decent handicaps at the course.
Emma Lavelle, inset, has her horses running well and Fox Appeal looks the ideal type to make a mark in these veterans’ races, which are a fantastic concept.
CHAMPAGNE AT TARA (3.40) runs in the Ascot United FC Novices’ Handicap Chase after a disappointing run at Cheltenham.
He’d previously shown good form to win at Leicester and ran well in defeat at Newbury and Ascot.
I have four rides at Stratford today.
The Jonjo O’Neill pair of HEDLEY LAMARR (3.20) and STRONGLY SUGGESTED (5.05) will need to improve on their recent form, but the bumper horse TOURBOY (5.35) is eye-catching given Mark Fahey is sending him over from Ireland. Looking ahead to Aintree, I don’t know what I’ll be riding yet in the Randox Health Grand National but will talk more about that in next week’s column. In the meantime, now Robbie Power has been retained to ride Fox Norton, my best chance at this early stage looks to be GO CONQUER, who runs in the Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase on Friday. He ran a great race at the Cheltenham Festival before fading to finish fifth.
The Flat season is getting under way now and the fight for the 2017 Stobart Flat Jockeys’ Championship will be an interesting.
I fancied James Doyle to give it a real go this season, but it looks as if he’ll be required in Australia, which I think paves the way for Paul Hanagan.
He is a busy rider and the end of his association with Sheikh Hamdan frees him up even more.
He also has the endless stream of rides from Richard Fahey to take advantage of.