Jim Crowley weekend rides blog: 'The softer the ground the better for him'

Leading jockey Jim Crowley is back with another exclusive Coral blog, this time previewing his weekend rides at Chester on Saturday and The Curragh on Sunday.

I start the day on this 2-y-o for Ed Dunlop. He finished third here in a nursery two runs ago, and then didn’t quite go on from that at Epsom last time. We’re drawn in five here which is kind enough, and he’s got bits and pieces of form on softer ground, so he could well go close here.

The first of a couple of rides for Ian Williams, Enemy is one of the outsiders for this listed prize, and that’s fair enough, as he’s a well-exposed 7-y-o whose best form tends to be on quicker ground. He’s been a great servant to connections though, winning at Southwell at the start of the year, and Ian’s runners always seem to go well here.

Now with Ian, this 7-y-o has had a few trainers, although this is the first time I’ve ridden him. He’s got winning form on very soft ground, which is a big plus here, and is dropping back into handicap company after a couple of runs in higher class contests. I can see him outrunning his odds.

Stall nine is not ideal for this filly, but you can win around here from that draw, you just need them to go hard early on up front, or break well and get a good early position. It’s an open looking nursery, and if she goes on the ground, she has each-way chances.

My one ride today for Shadwell is the 5-y-o Maghlaak, a gelding I haven’t actually ridden since he was a 3-y-o. He started the season with a Goodwood win, and was third at the Sussex track last time. The softer the ground the better for him, we’re drawn well in two, and he stays well. Off a mark of 89 he can go very close.

Phoenix Passion has had an excellent season, racking up a four timer, and he’s a winner on heavy going, so will relish this. He does have to bounce back from a slightly disappointing run last time, and draw 11 isn’t ideal, but Ed Walker’s horses are in great form, and we definitely have a chance in an open race.

On Sunday I ride Jasour in the Flying Five at the Curragh. This is his first go over the minimum distance since his juvenile days, but he’s always given me the feel of having the speed for five furlongs. He’s come out of last weekend’s Haydock Sprint Cup well, and we’re drawn next to Bradsell, so we should get some good early pace. He’s versatile ground-wise, and at big odds, is far from a back marker here. 

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