Crowley calls it: “I think Muthmir has a really good chance”
Champion jockey shares his weekend schedule
We have had some nice maiden winners at Sandown and Yarmouth this week, and we have some really nice young horses to run in the coming weeks.
I particularly liked a horse of Charlie Hills called Waafy that won the other day. I think he’s going to be a lovely horse next year.
Jim’s eight Saturday rides at Newbury
He’s a lovely War Front colt that’s been going nicely at home and he’s been really pleasing trainer Owen Burrows.
Newbury is a great track to start two-year-olds off, particularly for Owen as it’s quite local. He’s a very nice horse and we’re hopeful of a big run.
Owen doesn’t do anything particularly special in the way he prepares his two-year-olds for their first start. Some have been away whilst others haven’t. It all depends on the individual.
He ran very well first time up. He was very green and will have learned a lot from that experience. I like this horse a lot and he has a big price tag.
On paper this doesn’t look a strong race and I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t win.
On his first start he was drawn very badly at Sandown, on the outside of all the runners, and he was slowly away. The most important thing for a horse on his first start is, like a child on his first day at school, they must have a good experience. So whilst Joe Bloggs in the betting shop might be asking “why didn’t the jockey use his whip more?” it really doesn’t work like that on a horse’s debut.
If a child got told off on his first day at school he won’t want to go back. It’s the same for a racehorse. You want them to enjoy their first race.
I often wouldn’t use the whip at all on their first start, or maybe once if it was to help the horse go and win a race. You want the horse to come back, eat all his dinner, have a nice experience and look forward to going racing next time.
Emaraaty got behind early and I wanted him to come through runners rather than pull him wide early, where he would have learned very little.
He was stopped in his run and then ran a really encouraging race. You see some two-year-olds go racing, have a few smacks, and then next time out they are keen or flashing their tail and they haven’t enjoyed the experience.
I’m thrilled to pick up this ride for the Queen.
He’s on the upgrade having won his last two races. He won at Windsor, the Windsor Hill Stakes, last time.
I think he’s got a really good chance. He’s won on good ground, good to firm, and he’s even won on good to soft. He’s not ground dependent and it would be good to ride a winner for Her Majesty.
I really like this horse. He won at Yarmouth and then ran in the July Stakes. He ran okay but I was a little disappointed.
He then went and won the Ripon two-year-old trophy and won it well. The second came out and won at Doncaster. So I’m hopeful of a good run. I really like him.
I’ve ridden Nebo and he’s a good horse as well and I also respect the favourite, Invincible Army.
I hope the ground doesn’t get too slow. If it’s good ground then my horse has a great chance.
This race was won by Harry Angel last year so that’s some act to follow for the winner. I finished second to Harry Angel in the Haydock Sprint a couple of weeks ago on Tasleet and the winner was so impressive.
He’s the best sprinter around at the moment. Tasleet was second in the Diamond Jubilee and we were put firmly in our place. Let’s hope it’s a different story at Ascot on Champions Day.
He won nicely at York where he got the run of the race and the track suited him. Newbury is a similar sort of track so that should suit him.
He likes to go forward and get into a rhythm. He’s drawn fourteen which is a good draw. I should be able to get across from that draw and he should run a big race.
It’s always great to ride for Sir Michael Stoute. He makes it easy and doesn’t tie you down too much.
I’m lucky to be riding nice horses for him. Crystal Ocean ran a massive race in the St Leger. It was run at a furious gallop. I wish they’d gone steadier as it wouldn’t have sucked the stamina out of my horse.
But the Aidan O’Brien camp saw that and knew they had a strong stayer in Capri. I thought the right three horses finished 1-2-3 anyway. My horse will be in all the top middle distance races next year.
It was a difficult decision to pick Muthmir over Waady. Waady is actually 5lbs better off with Muthmir.
I won on Waady last time but I don’t think it was a strong race at Leicester.
Muthmir is a Group 2 winner this year and finished fourth in the King’s Stand earlier in the summer.
He was behind Battaash last time out giving weight away from a poor draw. I think Muthmir has a really good chance.
He was actually second to Crystal Ocean at the start of the year.
Then he won but then things didn’t work out for him at Chester and Sandown. He then won at Newmarket last time when he got the race in the Stewards’ room.
He’s going the right way. He’s up 5lbs but I don’t think he’s finished improving and he can run a big race. It’s competitive but my horse should be on the scene.
She won at Chepstow last time but I didn’t ride her that day.
Charlie Hills’ horses are running really well at the moment. Now she’s got her head in front and given her trainer’s current form, she must go well.
Jim
