Tom Scudamore: “I’m hopeful Dusky Hercules can leave his first run well behind.”
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Saturday – Ffos Las
I won on him last year, and he’s been in a very rich vein of form this summer.
He got beat last time but hopefully he can bounce back to form here. It’s a tight little contest but he would have a good chance on his best form.
I won a listed hurdle around Exeter last year. I schooled him last week and he jumped really well.
It’s a cracking day of racing down at Ffos Las tomorrow and this is a really good quality novice chase.
Vision Des Flos had a really good season last year and he certainly looks like he’ll make a very decent chaser given the way he schooled. I’m really looking forward to it and he’s my best ride of the weekend.
As novice chases go it’s a really competitive one. A lot of these horses will have been ready to go for a week or two and the ground just hasn’t been right for them given the lack of rain.
Fortunately Ffos Las can deliver ground with a bit of give in it and it’s a good track to start novice chasers off at, so it’s attracted a decent field.
You have Aintree winners, and listed and graded class horses running. It’s a proper race.
He does seem to have run to his best in the spring. He looks nicely handicapped over hurdles compared to his chase form.
He won well at Newbury in the spring time last year. However The New One sets a very good standard, and even though he is top weight, he has a very good record first time out and will be hard to beat.
We’ll give it a good go though. I haven’t ridden Sizing Granite before but I’m looking forward to it.
I rode him when he ran a couple of good runs at the back end of last season. I was placed on him around Plumpton and Exeter. I schooled him during the week and he jumped very well.
He must have a good chance. West Wind ran a very good race last time at Market Rasen but he has to back that up on softer ground. I certainly wouldn’t rule out Sartorial Elegance.
His first run was a little disappointing around Wincanton. I’m very hopeful he can leave that a long way behind.
It will be interesting to see what the others are like in the race. There are some big yards represented. I’d be disappointed if my horse doesn’t leave his first run well behind.
Sunday – Kempton Park
I won a couple of races on him last year. He ran well at Newton Abbott last time out. I have just the one ride on Sunday and hopefully I can make it count.
Next Week
I’m riding at Plumpton Monday, Exeter Tuesday and on to Cheltenham at the weekend. It will be a busy week.
We just need a bit more rain. David Pipe, my brother Michael and Colin Tizzard have lots of nice horses ready to go but we just need more juice in the ground.
Cheltenham could definitely do with some for next weekend.
Tom
