Crowley Calls It: “He would be the horse I’m most looking forward to riding on Friday”
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Champion Jockey and Coral Ambassador Jim Crowley talks us through his rides at York
I have some exciting rides to look forward to on the final day of the Dante meeting, beginning with Mulhimatty. She won the weaker division of the maiden at Newbury, and the handicapper hasn’t given her a rating, so she’s limited as to where she can run, so she runs in this Listed race. It’s a bit of a fact finding mission, as a) we don’t know if she’ll go on the ground and b) we don’t know if she’ll be good enough, but at least we’ll get answers to these questions and that will help us decide where we go in the future with her.
I then ride Muntahaa in the Yorkshire Cup, and I’m really looking forward to him. He’s never run on ground as soft as it could be after Wednesday’s heavy rainfall, but he’s got quite a high knee action and looks as if he might handle the softer ground. He comes here with the benefit of having two runs this season, while the likes of Clever Cookie, Dartmouth, High Jinx, Simple Verse and Endless Time are all having their first run of the season, so I’m hoping we’ll have a fitness edge and I’m looking forward to a big run from him.
He’s in the Ascot Gold Cup, but there has to be a question mark over the 2 ½ mile trip. Even genuine two mile cup horses can get found out over the Gold Cup trip, so the Goodwood Cup, which is now a Group One, might be the ideal target for him later in the summer, but we’ll get Friday out of the way first. He would be the horse I’m most looking forward to riding on Friday, he took a while to settle in the Leger last year but in his two runs this year he’s been much more relaxed.
I ride Fidaawy in the 1 ½ mile handicap for Sir Michael Stoute. He won at Doncaster last time when I rode him for the first time, and made the running on him. He has bits of form on good to soft but his stronger form is on better going, but he’s versatile so can front run if we have to. The race has cut up a bit so hopefully he’ll run a big race.
In the fillies’ handicap I’m on Florenza for Chris Fairhurst. The pick of her form was a third to Opal Tiara last summer, and that one has gone on to win a Group Two in Dubai, and she wasn’t beaten far by Hells Babe last time, who we’re taking on again, so provided she goes on the ground she could have a squeak. When the going changes like it has this week you do get some shock results, with favourites getting beaten, so you never know.
My final ride is Angel Meadow in the five furlong handicap. It’s the first time I’ve ridden this filly, but her second to a nice horse of Keith Dalgleish’s, Clem Fandango, at Ayr last September was a decent run. I rode a few winners over jumps for her trainer Micky Hammond so it would be nice to ride one on the flat for him!
Jim
