Crowley Calls It: “it’s a fair track but you have to have your wits about you”

The much-loved Coral racing ambassador on day one at York

I’m really looking forward to York this week. I always like riding there and it’s great to have so many live chances there.

It’s a funny racecourse in that some trainers do really well there and others don’t. I’m not sure why. From a jockeys point of view I’ve had some good success round there; I won the Duke of York stakes for David Simcock a couple of years ago which is a particular highlight. It’s a very fair track and they often go very quick, in which case they come back to you, but if they don’t go fast early they can then get away from you as well. So it’s a fair track but you have to have your wits about you as a jockey.

2.20 York – Shabeeb

It’s his first run of the year. He’s been going nicely at home. He ran in the Bahrain Trophy last year and came fifth when the trip probably just stretched him, and then he came back in trip over ten furlongs on soft ground and was a bit disappointing. I think he’s a top of the ground horse, so my only concern would be the ground at York. He wouldn’t want too much rain. He’s also got quite a wide draw in seventeen. He’s a really nice horse. I like him a lot.

3.30 York – Tasleet

I was really impressed by Brando last time. Magical Memory, The Tin Man and Jungle Cat are all good horses. It’s a really good race. Tasleet was second on his first start back this year. He actually won the Greenham last year when they ran it at Chelmsford. He is coming back in trip after coming second to Home Of The Brave last time. He’s won at York. He won the Sales race there on Good to Soft two years ago. He won’t mind a bit of cut in the ground. Hopefully he’ll run a decent race.

4.35 York – Akhlaaq

He’s a smashing horse. He wouldn’t want the ground too soft. He’s by New Approach and is a good moving sort. He had a nice comeback run at Newmarket over six furlongs which is on the short side for him. He was a bit keen last year. He’s going back to seven furlongs and providing the ground is nice he’ll run well but he won’t want it too soft.

5.05 York – Santry

He won the Brocklesby. He’s by Harbour Watch and looks quite a nice horse. He’s got a penalty for winning his first start and you never know what the un-raced horses are like. But he’s a winner and hopefully he can defy the penalty.

Jim