Scudamore can’t wait to get back on board Kings Palace

I have busy day at Chepstow tomorrow. I start off with Far From Defeat in the opening race on the card at 2.05pm. He’ll be the big outsider of the field as he has been disappointing recently. He’s had his issues but we are just looking for a step in the right decision. Paul Nicholls’ horse Red Hanrahan will be hard to beat but I would not rule out Aurillac for Rebecca Curtis either.

In the 2.40pm I am on board Brook. He had some good juvenile form but this season has been disappointing. He fell last time out at Catterick and is another one who is just looking to bounce back. My brother runs Streets of Promise and she’ll have a good chance in this. The softer the conditions, the more chance she has. Brook is more than capable of doing it but he just has to start pulling his finger out.

At 3.10pm I’ll be riding Theatre Flame. He ran ok at Huntingdon last time. This is his first run for a while. He is dropping down to 2m. I can really see him outrunning his odds. It’s a competitive little contest but he shaped with a lot of promise last time. I give him a good each-way chance. The one to beat is probably Floresco who sets a decent standard but not an insurmountable one.

One of the reasons I have gone to Chepstow on Saturday is for Kings Palace who runs at 3.40pm. He obviously ran disappointingly in the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham but I am looking forward to getting back on board again. We’re giving him a run over hurdles tomorrow and then we will decide what to do with him at the Festival next month.  He’s always been quite lightly raced and we did not want to rush him back. He seems well at home. David has three in the race but I was always going to choose Kings Palace.

My ride in the 4.20pm on Dance Floor King is an interesting one as he has been off the track for 420 days. His form behind Mr Mole at Sandown last time is obviously very good.  He has had a problem but if he is set and ready to go, I can see him outrunning his odds. He is taking on a lot of unexposed horses so I am hoping he is fit to run well again.

I finish my book of rides on Saturday with Princesse Fleur in the 4.55pm. To be honest I was disappointed with her last time at Towcester. I am not sure she will want the ground on the soft time at Chepstow. If it wasn’t for her last run I’d really fancy her but she will need to bounce back.

Moving on to Sunday, I have three rides at Fontwell. My best chance will probably be with Bladoun in the 4.50pm. He is dropping down the weights because he has not been running at his best recently. If he can return to form, he would have a good chance of winning this race.

Tom