Jim Crowley weekend rides blog: 'It's not that straightforward with him'

The latest Jim Crowley weekend rides blog sees the leading jockey preview at his action from a busy weekend at Salisbury and Curragh on Saturday and Sunday.

When I rode this horse to finish fourth in the Group One Futurity Trophy as a 2-y-o, I would never have believed he’d still be a maiden three years later. He’s got so much ability, it’s just a case of getting it out of him, and while this looks a good opportunity for him, clearly it’s not that straightforward with him, but we’ll do our best!

This filly is making her racecourse debut, I’ve not sat on her at home so don’t know too much about her, but trained by Gary and Josh Moore, I’m sure she’ll cope with the racecourse experience well, and whatever she does here, will improve for it.

Jasour is a talented horse who has run well in Group One company, with a third in the Commonwealth Cup and sixth in the July Cup his best efforts at that level, but he’s always been a headstrong horse, so he’s dropping back to listed class here as we look to get him back to winning ways.

He’s had wind surgery over the winter, I’ve ridden him in work this spring, and he feels great, but he does need to settle much better, at Newmarket in the July Cup he pulled my arms out and still finished sixth, so the talent is there. If he doesn’t settle well here, Clive [Cox, trainer] may look to drop him back to five furlongs, but if I can switch him off here, he would have a big chance.

First time on board this Amo Racing horse, he’s making his first start of the year on turf, after some good efforts on the all-weather for his young trainer, Tom Clover. He’s still a maiden, but his best all-weather form gives him an each-way chance, and hopefully he’ll enjoy the quick ground.

Connie Moon ran a nice race to finish sixth on her handicap debut, she’s up in trip here which should suit her, I just hope the ground isn’t too lively for her, if she handles it she can continue to improve.

This fellow is a real old favourite of mine now, and I’m really looking forward to getting back on him. He’s a lot further forward this year than he was last year, when he still won first time up after a long time off, albeit that was a Group Three, and this is a good looking Group One. 

He’s been to Kempton for a racecourse gallop, and Owen Burrows was very happy with him, he’s not easy to get fit at home as he’s a real old pro and very relaxed about the job, so whatever he does here, he will improve, but as I say, we’re very happy with where he is. We’re drawn in stall six, and slightly lower would have been preferable in order to drop him in, but that said, he’s versatile enough to be up with the pace or sat off it, he doesn’t need to be ridden one way.

There is rain forecast on Saturday, good ground will be fine, good to soft would be great for us, but we’ll take what we get. Of his rivals, Los Angeles and White Birch are match fit, while Kalpana is starting her season like us, but we are the highest rated in the field, and I’m not sure any of these could have done what he did at Ascot in the Champion Stakes, he showed an unbelievable turn of foot that day.

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