Jim Crowley: “I am hoping he is a Group horse in a handicap”
It is day one of the July Meeting at Newmarket. Jim Crowley discusses his four rides today.
He won at Ripon last time and he has gone up 9lb in the ratings for that success. It was a smart performance and he needs another one, as this is a competitive race with 19 runners in it.
In a race like this, you need a bit of luck or you have to have a Group horse in a handicap. I am hoping I am on the latter. He looks unexposed and open to a lot of improvement. William Haggas’ horses are on fire at the moment and he looks to have a favourite’s chance.
He ran a great race in the Hardwicke. I always had it in the back of my mind that he would stay 1m4f. Broome went off at a strong gallop and made it a test of stamina. The third horse (Hurricane Lane) got beat in France, but he is a good horse.
Hopefully the race at Ascot hasn’t taken much out of him. He loves fast ground and this new trip has opened up more avenues for him.
This horse ran over 7f a couple of times, but he is very capable of stepping up to 1m. I was a little disappointed in him in the Jersey Stakes.
It was difficult to choose between this horse and Alflaila, but I stuck with Saeed in Suroor’s runner because I’ve ridden him in all his starts, so I know him. He needs to step up on his last run but he is a decent horse.
He has a good each-way chance. He bolted up at Ascot and ran well at Doncaster before that. It is a competitive race but this horse is well capable of winning this.