Crowley calls it: “We’re fully confident in Battaash to win again.”
2016 champion jockey is at Ascot and Longchamp
Saturday – Ascot
He’s an old favourite of mine who is a very useful horse. He ran in France last time where he was a bit keen with blinkers on.
We are using cheek pieces this time around. I am drawn away from the early pace setters but I will try and get behind the right horses.
He is a hold up horse who does not do a lot when he hits the front. Ascot is the right track for him and he has a good chance here.
He is a very nice horse who ran Poet’s Word a close second in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown earlier in the season.
He is the top rated in the race at 112. If he comes back to the form from Sandown, I think he will take a lot of beating.
This horse is a course distance winner and Ian Williams’ runners are in good form. He will need to step up from what he has done so far to win a handicap of this calibre.
He has won a couple of nice handicaps before though so hopefully he can be in the mix with a bit of luck going our way.
She won an ordinary race at Mussleburgh earlier this year. She has also been placed in Group company which is good form.
Unfortunately she does have a penalty here but I think she has a good each-way chance in the race.
I haven’t ridden this horse before but he looks fairly solid. We are hoping we don’t get too much rain as he won’t want to it too soft.
He has been very consistent this year and since his last run he has gone up a couple of pounds. I’ve got to think he is in with a chance.
Sunday
He absolutely smashed them last year in this race and if he turns up in anywhere near the same kind of form, he should do the same again. He was so impressive at Goodwood but sadly he has run poorly twice at York.
This will be his first run at Longchamp as the race obviously took place at Chantilly last year. I don’t think the track is going to be a problem for him.
I am happy with his draw where he has stall six. He is one of them horses who you don’t want to pull him around too much. It will be nice to take the lead if I can, if not, he will be just off the pace. I rode at the course earlier this year.
The track is just the same but there is a new weighing room now and a few others things have changed.
I am really looking forward to it and we go there full of confidence that he can win the race again.
Jim
