Scudamore Says: “He looks to have a favourites’ chance. It’s a great ride to pick up”
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Top jockey Tom Scudamore talks us through his Saturday rides and reflects on his season exclusively for Coral
It was brilliant to get my 100th winner of the season at Chepstow on Billy My Boy. I definitely didn’t want to be left like a batsman stuck not out on 99.
I ride Vincent’s Forever in the opener at Sandown at 1.50. He ran well last time but will have to step up on what he has shown so far. He has improved with every run though and this is his first start in a handicap so we’ll see how he goes. He’s been waiting for the fast ground and he should pay his way during the summer.
My big ride of the day is in the Bet365 Gold Cup on Doing Fine at 3.35. He’s running off the same mark as when he won at Cheltenham last time. He probably has to step up a bit on that run but he’s got a good record around Sandown, and he looks to have a favourites’ chance. It’s a great ride to pick up and Neil Mulholland has the first three in the betting so he has a strong hand in the race. With Noel Fehily not able to do the weight on Doing Fine it’s a great spare for me to pick up.
This is the only major race that a Scudamore hasn’t won. Neither me, nor my Dad nor Grandad ever managed to win this. So we have to put that right. This race seems to have lost its shine a little since it was known as the Whitbread, but it’s a great race with a great history. I would love to see it returned to its former glories. It’s a fair track Sandown. For some reason I find it easier to ride on the Chase track than the Hurdles track. You have to be able to jump well but you can ride the race that suits you round there. It’s not a track which favours any particular style with no advantage to front runners or hold up horses. It’s a good track.
I then ride in the last race of the season at 5.20 on Valhalla for Colin Tizzard. He won nicely enough at Taunton two runs back. I don’t think things went right for him last time. He got too far back and could never get into it. Hopefully he can run well tomorrow.
The highlight of my season was winning the King George VI Chase on Thistlecrack. That was a tremendous thrill. Winning at the Festival again on Un Temps Pour Tout was fantastic, as was winning a few good races on Vieux Lion Rouge. I set out at the start of a season to ride 100 winners and I’ve achieved that. It hasn’t been a bad season by any stretch of the imagination so roll on next year hoping for more of the same.
I’m watching my girls show-jumping on Sunday then it all starts again on Monday. I have Tuesday and Wednesday off next week which will be nice. I’m meeting Brough Scott on Tuesday with Dad, as there’s a book in the pipeline about the Scudamores.
Tom
