StableTalk: “He is a horse we really like at home. He had a solid flat career and he’s jumping really well”

In the opening race at Musselburgh on Sunday at 1.00pm, I saddle Azzuri, who is a horse we really like at home. He had a solid flat career and he’s been jumping very well. We are putting him in at the top level because if he ends up being a maiden at the end of the season, I would not be disappointed in him going into the next season as a novice.

I may also end up running him in the Adonis Juvenile Novice Hurdle at Kempton later this month because I don’t want to give away our maiden tag cheaply. He’s obviously short of experience in this race so it will be difficult for him but we are hopeful.

At 2.00pm it is the Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial, where I am running Ashoka. He is rated 124 which on the published ratings in this race does not look bad at all. Having said that, Tommy Silver would probably be rated around 133 off his first run so I think he is going to be very hard to beat.

I would not be too concerned about Ashoka’s run at Kempton last time out. He was one of the first of my horses to come out when the yard was not in great form. I can forgive him a little bit because he seemed to drop out pretty tamely. He’s on better ground this time around and I think he will run respectably in what is just a four-runner race.

I am really pleased with what my horses are showing at home ahead of the Cheltenham Festival which is now less than six weeks away. I have seen a massive difference in them since Trials Day at Cheltenham. The weather has altered slightly which is making a big difference. I’d say we are going to have around 20 runners at this year’s Festival and a lot of them look to be going there with big chances.

All the best,
Dan.