Crowley calls it: “Yafta won’t be far away in the Hackwood”
Published:
2016 champion jockey previews Newbury rides
I was a little disappointed with Eqtidaar in the July Cup last Saturday. He just ran a little bit flat. Sands of Mali ran a similar sort of race, and neither of them figured.
I don’t think he ran up to his Royal Ascot form and maybe the Commonwealth Cup took a little bit more out of him than we thought. I also think he might want slightly slower ground.
The July Cup rode like a very good race and the winner, US Navy Flag, has been crying out for a drop back in trip. He’s a talented horse.
The hot weather is quite challenging to deal with in terms of body weight. The body holds on to the water when it’s so hot so it makes it that bit tougher to make the weight.
You also have to keep the fluid going in, but then the body is hanging on to it for longer too.
From a racing point of view lots of trainers and owners think twice about running their horses on this firm ground.
We’ve seen some extra meetings put on at the all-weather tracks, and they are a saving grace really. The all-weather tracks tend to ride very slow during the summer because of the heat. Then I’ve ridden at Bath and it’s like cantering around the M25 it’s so hard.
Saturday – Newbury
I’m looking forward to riding him. I’ve never ridden him before. He was second to Mushtashry who I rode, last time at Sandown.
I thought he was a little bit unlucky that day as I got first run on him. He’s a good horse and he’s won at Newbury. He has Emotionless to beat in this but I think he has a good chance.
He’s a nice stayer who’s just had the one run this year. Hopefully that has put him right. He was very progressive last year and he stays really well.
This trip won’t be a problem for him and he seems to like quick ground. He’s in good order at home.
The boss also has Amoghared in the race but I couldn’t do the weight on him as he’s only carrying 8 stone 6 pounds. He has just as good a chance as Quloob. He ran a very nice race at Royal Ascot in the Queens Vase. The weight has made the choice for me.
I’ve ridden a few of these before. I rode Amazing Red in the Northumberland Plate last time and he just didn’t like the surface at Newcastle.
So you can put a line through that. I rode Cleonte at Royal Ascot and he ran a nice race bit just found the trip a bit far for him in the Ascot Stakes. I think Saunter who I know well would like a bit of cut in the ground.
Yafta is a good horse and ultra-consistent. He hasn’t finished out of the first two and ran really well up at Newcastle last time out.
I’m sure he’ll be back on the scene again this time. He’s a very solid contender. I don’t think he’ll be far away.
Charlie Hills horse Equatorial disappointed last time, so I’d be taking on him. I won the Wokingham on Bacchus and I thought he deserved to be favourite.
It was a fantastic effort by him and I think he’s a Group horse. I’d love to get back on him at some stage later in the season.
I don’t know much about this horse but I know Charlie has a nice bunch of two year olds. He’s owned by Derek James, and has a good pedigree being by Charm Spirit. We’ll have to see how we go.
She’s a really nice filly. I rode her at Nottingham but the ground was too soft. She wants fast ground and she won well last time. She was a little bit keen that day.
I think she has a great chance. She has Homeopathic to beat. She has no weight on her back, she has a lovely pedigree and she’s a lovely, big filly. I’ll be disappointed if she didn’t nearly win.
I haven’t ridden this horse in work. He’s a very interesting horse having come over from France to William Haggis.
He’s only had the one run so far and was disappointing. He’s won on good ground in France. It’s a bit of a fact finding mission. I hope he runs a nice race.
Lingfield
It’s nice to get on this horse for Hugo Palmer. He disappointed first time out in a Nursery. He would have a good chance.
Hugo’s horses are always fit and hardy, so I expect him to have an each way chance.
Jim
