Tom Scudamore so excited by Giant chance in the Hennessy

I was disappointed Un Temps Pour Tout got beat, but the more I look at it the more I think we might have run into a good horse to be honest. We pulled six lengths clear of the third and fourth placed horses. I felt that he improved from his Cheltenham run. There’s no getting away from it, it was disappointing to get beaten but we probably just bumped into one.

The Betfair Chase was a great race, but I think Dynaste didn’t quite run up to form. He’s run OK, and the way the first two ran we were probably only playing for third, and he finished third, but probably a bit further behind than we thought we might be. It was a tremendous race and good to see Cue Card back to his best. There are various options for Dynaste. The Peterborough Chase, The King George and a listed race at Aintree, so we’ll see what looks the best option. Nothing is set in stone for him at the moment.

In the 12.45pm I ride Balgarry which is going to be exciting. He’s quite keen and free going so I’ll try and conserve his energy. He’s enthusiastic to say the least. You can’t really hold him, he’s just so keen. He likes to get on with it, quite an excitable type, so I just need to try and harness that. He’s won around Newbury before, and it wasn’t a bad run last time at Huntingdon, so hopefully that run has taken a bit of the fizz out of him. He jumped very well last time, and will bowl along, so when those types of ride come off it’s very exciting.

I’m on La Vaticane in the 1.15pm. She ran well at Cheltenham and I think stepping up in trip will suit. She ran well over a similar trip at Kempton. She ran well for a long way last time and she’s come back well and I’m hoping for a big run from her. We’ve always felt that she wanted further even though she showed she has a lot of pace last time. She got the trip well at Kempton and will handle the ground. I’m really looking forward to riding her and she is probably my best chance of the day.

Heath Hunter is back over hurdles in the 1.50pm. It didn’t work out for him over fences last time. Mind you it was a competitive chase. He will enjoy the ground but he has a bit to find.

The Long Distance Hurdle at 2.25pm is a good race but my horse Thistlecrack deserves his place in it. It depends on which Cole Harden and Whisper turn up but I’m hopeful given the way my horse finished last season that he might make up into one of the better horses in the staying division. Today will be interesting as the horses are making their reappearances, and we’ll see how Thistlecrack measures up against these top horses. He’s a lovely horse, one of last season’s top novices, and unlucky not to win two Grade 1s. He was one of the horses over the summer I was most looking forward to riding. Yes, he’s got it to find with Whisper and Cole Harden, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he found the improvement to go close.

In the Hennessy Gold Cup at 3.00pm I’m on one of the old boys The Giant Bolster. He’s been a wonderful horse and I schooled him earlier in the week and he was tremendous. He felt young again and as good as he’s ever felt to be honest. It’s up to him to go and prove it. I haven’t had a feeling like that off him for a very long time. So that was exciting but he’s got to go and do it. He ran in the race four years ago and was seventh to Carruthers. He was very unlucky as he was nearly brought down. Had I not been hampered I’d have been bang there.

In the last I’m on Pearls Legend. He was third at Cheltenham last time, which was a very good run. He’s another bold front running type. Newbury will really suit him and he’s a good spare to pick up. I’ve ridden against him a few times. He’s run well at big tracks like Aintree, Cheltenham and Sandown and he will have a good each way chance today.

On Sunday I’m having a day off which in theory will give me a chance to relax with Lottie and the children, although I will probably be kept busy with all sorts of tasks and jobs to do. It would be less tiring having a full book of rides at Leicester!

Tom