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Tom Scudamore talks Thistlecrack, Wetherby rides and Carlisle mounts

| 30.10.2016
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Coral horse racing ambassador Tom Scudamore spoke exclusively to us about Thistlecrack’s winning debut over chase fences, his Wetherby rides on Saturday and Carlisle mounts on Sunday.

“Thistlecrack did everything we wanted from him”

In the latest Tom Scudamore blog, Coral's horse racing ambassador talks about Thistlecrack's successful chasing debut.

In the latest Tom Scudamore blog, Coral’s horse racing ambassador talks about Thistlecrack’s successful chasing debut.

Thistlecrack did everything we wanted from him. It was a glorified schooling session but that’s how you’d want it to be. I was very impressed with how he jumped and how he handled everything. There are many more rivers to cross, he has to improve and perform in tougher fields, but as chase debuts go I couldn’t have been happier.

I wasn’t at all nervous on the day but when I got home I felt really tired, which was clearly down to the pressure of the day. But I didn’t feel any nerves beforehand of during the race at all. All I wanted to do was keep it simple. My main objective was to get him jumping, and if he jumped well then he was going to win. When he jumped the second fence I was able to relax to some degree.

On a chase debut the first fence is all about presenting the horse to it straight and getting him to jump it nicely. I’ve ridden horses first time out over fences, who’ve done plenty of schooling, and they jump the first as if they’ve never seen a fence before. So once he’d jumped the first and then the second it did put my mind at ease.

Wetherby rides

Pass The Time is one of Tom Scudamore's Wetherby rides this Saturday.

Pass The Time is one of Tom Scudamore’s Wetherby rides this Saturday.

On Saturday I ride three up at Wetherby. The first is Pass The Time in the 2.10. I rode her when she came fourth in the Mares hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

She’s coming here off the back of a disappointing run but she has been running well over the summer. She’s been freshened up a little bit and on official ratings she must have a cracking chance. She should go very close.

“Great to get back on Dynaste”

Then it will be great to get back on Dynaste in the Charlie Hall at 3.20. He’s not getting any younger and it will be a hard race against the likes of Cue Card but he seems in good order. We’ve been really pleased with him at home and this looks an ideal opportunity to try and pick up some more prize money.

Dynaste in the Charlie Hall Chase is another of Tom's Wetherby rides.

Dynaste in the Charlie Hall Chase is another of Tom’s Wetherby rides.

Of course it always gets tougher as they get older but it’s all about whether they still have the old sparkle, and he’s doing all the right things at home and showing us all the right signs. He seems as well as ever, and he’s eligible for Veteran’s races as well now so that gives us more options.

I then ride Kalondra in the 5.05 who has been running well all summer. Neil has always thought a great deal about this horse and he’s now beginning to get his act together. He’s won his last two and deserves to go up in class and I think he has a cracking chance.

Neil is very straightforward to ride for. I’ve had a fair bit of success riding for him over the last couple of years. With any luck he’ll train the best part of a hundred winners this season as he’s had a cracking start. He’s a very good trainer.

Champers On Ice was entered at Wetherby but we are waiting for more rain. I sat on him during the week and was really pleased with him but he really relishes it when the mud is flying. We have lots of nice horses ready to run when the rain comes but the ones that David has been running have been running really well.

Carlisle mounts

On Sunday I head up to Carlisle for three rides. I have two for Ben Arthey. I rode for him at Ayr on Monday which was my first ride for him. The first is Largy Bull in the 1.00. It’s only his second start under rules and I don’t know much about him, but I’m sure he’ll be fit and ready.

Twentytwo's Taken is one of three Carlisle mounts for Scudamore on Sunday,

Twentytwo’s Taken is one of three Carlisle mounts for Scudamore on Sunday,

I then ride Twentytwo’s Taken in a big field novice handicap chase at 1.35. She has schooled well at home. She’s been a bit of an in and out performer but hopefully she is back on song, and she’ll go well. She wouldn’t be one that always runs the same race.

Then I ride Jennys Melody for Ben Arthey. She has had a long layoff but ran up a sequence of wins before that. So we’ll see how we go with her.

Tom

Related

See Scudamore’s archive for previous entries of his exclusive blog.

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Author

Tom Scudamore

Tom Scudamore is a third-generation British flat and steeplechase jockey. He is the son of eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore; his grandfather Michael won the Grand National on Oxo in 1959. Tom provides Coral with all the latest insight and thoughts on his next rides.