Scudamore says: “I feel we can still be competitive with Starchitect”
Top jockey talks through his weekend chances
Saturday
His last three runs have been very good. He is three pounds out of the handicap but all the conditions will be fine for him, 3m3f is perfect, and we are expecting a big run.
He won nicely at Stratford last time. It was good to get his head in front. We are up a little bit in the weights for that but I still feel we can be competitive.
It’s a very strong race as it always is but we will be bang there.
This is a race which is synonymous with the Pipe yard, as indeed this November meeting is overall. David had the winner of the first yesterday, and the horses are running really well at the moment and long may that continue. I do think Starchitect has a cracking chance.
His last two runs have been fabulous, and now he has to back it up. In the past he hasn’t been that consistent but he seems to be in the form of his life at the moment, and for a race of this nature it doesn’t look the strongest.
Obviously we have to find a bit to beat Thomas Campbell based on our last run against him, but he was impressive at Newbury since then, and if he can improve again for that run, we would have a great chance.
He is a fabulous horse and a real yard favourite. He seems to be have been around a long time yet he is still only eight. He’s been taking on graded company over fences and very good horses over hurdles and has been a real stalwart for the yard. It’s great that he’s running so well.
Things didn’t quite go right for him last season. He came over from France and he just took a little bit of time to settle in. He ran okay in the Fred Winter but has been going nicely at home.
We will find out more about him in this and the step up in trip should really suit him. I think he has a good each-way chance.
4.00 Cheltenham – Moonlight Escape
She won nicely at Galway last time. It was a sixteen runner field round there so the nature of this race and Cheltenham shouldn’t be a problem for her. She probably has a little bit to find with a few of the protagonists but she has shown a decent level of form and is a good ride to pick up.
Sunday
2.25 Cheltenham – Vaniteux
He ran okay first time out for us. He is probably caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment.
He deserves to take his chance in this graded class but he’s 14/1 for a reason. On his best form you’d give him an each-way chance. We are still learning about him, so it’s a bit of a fact finding mission to find out more about him.
He has not been quite good enough to beat the top boys at this level but then he is also weighted accordingly for running well in good company.
He is going to give the lads who own him a lot of fun in some big races, as he’s a rattling good Saturday horse.
3.00 Cheltenham – Misterton
This is a good spare ride to pick up. I found out on yesterday that I would be riding him. His win at Chepstow last time was good.
All the conditions are right for him. It will be the first time that I have ridden for Harry Fry. I will have to carry 10 stone so I went for a long run this morning.
By the time Sunday comes along I will be a skeleton. I will be very disappointed if it not worth it though.
Thistlecrack
I had a sit on Thistlecrack last Saturday. It was really nice to get back on him. I didn’t open up the engine or anything but he seemed very happy and on good terms with himself.
At the moment it’s all systems go and he felt like he had all his usual form about him. It’s always so excited to sit on him. Colin and Joe know where he is at, and it was just a pleasure to get back on him again.
It’s all going well generally too. David’s horses are running well and to open up this meeting with a winner was tremendous. I had a couple of winners on Thursday, and then won the Cross Country race for my brother yesterday on Kingswell Theatre which was brilliant, so I couldn’t be happier with how things are going.
Tom
