Tom Scudamore: “I wouldn’t swap Umbrigado for anything”
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Coral ambassador previews his weekend rides
Saturday rides
13.50 Haydock – Kateson
He hasn’t quite reached the heights of his Challow run in recent performances. His form tailed off a bit at the back end of last season. He disappointed at Haydock and then didn’t run that well in the Grade 1 at Aintree behind Reserve Tank.
However, on the form of his Challow run, running off a mark of 141 you’d have to be very hopeful.
I really liked him as a bumper horse, and then he translated that to hurdles and at Christmas time last year he looked like a really exciting horse. He now needs to bounce back from a couple of disappointing runs but I see no reason why he can’t.
14.25 Haydock – Umbrigado
I love this horse. I was disappointed he couldn’t run to his best at Aintree in the same race that Kateson ran in last April. His form before that was very good and reads well now.
It is always a very competitive race, as you can see from the roll of honour that includes Grand Cru, Paislely Park, Sam Spinner etc, but I wouldn’t swap my fellow for anything and I think he has a very good chance.
15.40 Haydock – Know The Score
He took a little while to find his feet, but staying chases were always going to be the plan for him. He won nicely last time in soft conditions, and this step up in trip from 2m7f to 3m4f will really suit him.
I’d be very surprised if the ground at Haydock doesn’t ride a lot more testing than the Good to Soft they are currently calling it. Whilst I don’t always believe in the going sticks, they are giving readings at Haydock of 4.5 to 5 on the going sticks which usually points to heavy ground, so I suspect it will be much more testing up there than the current going report.
I think it will be difficult for Lostintranslation as he’s moving from novice company last year into open class and is taking on Bristol De Mai on his home turf.
As Nigel Twiston-Davies says, Bristol De Mail is one of top three chasers in the country and his record at Haydock and at this time of year is brilliant. The performance he put up in last year’s race when beating the likes of Native River, Thistlecrack and co was really special.
I’m a big fan of Lostintranslation and if he can beat Bristol De Mail tomorrow then he’ll become favourite for the Gold Cup for sure and deservedly so. I had been a bit concerned about the form of last year’s novice chasers, with Delta Work getting stuffed and Santini unimpressive at Sandown, but Defi De Seuil’s win last weekend gave his novice form with Lostintranslation a real boost.
If I had to call it I would say I expect Bristol De Mai to win, but I’m just really looking forward to watching the race.
I think this is more straightforward. I think Altior will win. Cyrname was impressive winning that Grade 1 at Ascot and he’s an admirable horse but I think Altior will be too good for him.
Sunday rides
13.20 Exeter – Sizing Cusimano
I ride Sizing Cusimano for the Tizzards. It’s his first run of the season and it’s a level weights Novice Chase against higher rated opposition, so we’ll be looking for a nice solid performance that we can build on in the weeks ahead.
13.50 Exeter – Airton
I think Airton could run well. He fell last time out at Exeter 3 out when running a nice race, and he’s well handicapped on some of his best form. With David’s horses running well, I don’t see any reason why he can’t run a decent race.
Tom
