Scudamore Says: “I’m really looking forward to riding Garran City”
Top jockey also previes the Cheltenham festival
Saturday
Garran City won his point to point and this is his first run since then. He has schooled well, and seems very fit and well, so this is a good place to start him off in.
You have to have plenty of respect for Mount Rushmore of Colin Tizzard’s who nearly made a winning debut over hurdles last time out.
But Garran City seems tough and honest at home, and I’m really looking forward to riding him in this.
Eddiemaurice deserves to win one. He holds no secrets from the handicapper and pays for his consistency. He has been running really well this season although he was a fraction below par last time at Cheltenham.
He got hampered at the top of the hill and couldn’t really recover from that. If he can run back to the Kempton form of his second to Kayf Grace then you’d have to give him a very good chance.
Poker Play is a horse that I’ve always thought a lot of but hadn’t really performed on the track, but then his run last time at Exeter was a lot better. It was really heavy ground that day and hopefully it will be slightly better at Chepstow.
It’s a competitive Pertemps qualifier as always but he’s running off 10 stone 3lbs , he’s got his career back on track, and he can run very well in this.
Third Act has been out of form but he’s fallen down the ratings and gets into this 0-100 off a mark of 97 having won off 112.
And with Colin Tizzard’s horses in such good form you would have to give him a good chance in this.
Sunday
3.30 Southwell – Kansas City Chief
Kansas City Chief won well at Doncaster and then just got touched off at Catterick.
Neil Mulholland is in a rich vein of form and this horse should be hard to beat.
Cheltenham Festival
I’m feeling good about the Festival.
I have all of David’s to ride, and then in terms of some of the novices I’ll be waiting on the likes of Noel Fehily and Robbie Power to make their decisions before I know what options I have.
That’s the position at the moment, just waiting and seeing, but by the looks of things I’ll have plenty of rides, and some every nice ones, and I’m looking forward to it.
Mind you there is still two weeks to go and with my big guns, Thistlecrack and Un Temps Pour Tout, ruled out for the season you certainly learn not to take anything for granted.
Tom
