Jamie Spencer says Big Orange has a big chance

I’m riding Dwight D in the first today at 2.00 off 8 stone 7lbs. I don’t ride at 8 stone 7lbs more than a few times a year so I’ve been working all morning to get the pounds off and I’m just about there. I used to be able to ride at 8 stone 6lbs and even 8 stone 5lbs but over the last few years the lightest I can ride has crept up to 8 stone 7lbs. Obviously it’s a big meeting, it’s a decent race with good prize money, and Dwight D has a really good chance. He’s running off 85. I thought he ran really well at Newmarket on his first start after being gelded, and he was the only horse to make up any ground from the back of the field, where it all seemed to happen up front. We have a nice draw today which hopefully we can make use of. He doesn’t lack pace so we should be able to get a good position, then relax, and then pick up from the three pole. He has a nice weight so we can make use of that.

In the Goodwood Cup at 3.10 I ride Big Orange looking to win the race for the second year running. He’s got an obvious chance on official ratings. He’s got 4lbs and upwards in hand of the field. He’s actually getting better and has run only one moderate race in over a year and that was when he ran on softish ground at York. Other than that he’s been very consistent. He had an easier at Newmarket this year, than he did last year coming into this race, so hopefully that should help. I can’t see too many negatives. Obviously giving 17lbs to Sword Fighter is the one thing that would give me concern. Number one, he hasn’t met the three year olds yet and it looks at this stage as if the three year olds are a good bunch, and Number Two, at this stage of the year, the weight for age over long distance races is quite extreme for older horses. You can’t underestimate how hard it is to give a progressive three year old 17lbs over this trip. That is the one unknown. I feel I have a handle on all the others in the race on the formbook. I’m not as worried about them as I am about Sword Fighter.

I know Curbyourenthuiasm and Quest For More well. They are both good horses. Curbyourenthusiasm has been waiting for the ground all year. It’s been a bit of a nightmare with him as he’s been entered a few times and it’s rained. Every time he’s been due to run it’s just rained. David’s happy with him and he looks well. Big Orange gave Quest For More 5lbs in The Melbourne Cup and beat him, and he beat him in this race last year, so I can’t really see how he can beat Big Orange if Big Orange turns up.

I ride a two year old filly first time out called Miss Patience in the 4.20 for Peter Chapple-Hyam. She’s an Excelebration filly that will probably need the run. It looks a strong race and you have to remember Alexandrova got beat in this race a few years ago, and then won about four Oaks afterwards, so it can be a very good race. I enjoy riding these youngsters as they’re the next generation of horses and you’re just hoping they run well, show something and can be one for the future.

Finally I’m on Paddy Power for Richard Fahey in the last at 5.30. He’s drawn right down the stands rail so we’ll boot him out, it looks like he’s got plenty of pace, he’ll go forward and so I’ll let him bowl and see where that takes me. Just Glamorous is on for a four timer but getting high enough in the weights so it will be interesting.

Jamie