Tom Scudamore: “Lieutenant Rocco will be much fitter and is well handicapped on last year’s form”
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Coral ambassador Tom Scudamore gives us the lowdown on his weekend rides at Warwick and Exeter
Saturday
He was disappointing at Doncaster on his opening start in the UK. He then ran well to a point at Market Rasen on Boxing Day before fading away. We are still finding out about this horse, who does have some decent form in France.
This horse will strip a lot fitter this time. He badly needed the run when he was pulled up at Lingfield. He is very well handicapped on his form last year. I expect him to produce a much better performance this time around.
Tom Lacey has a very good record in these bumpers so I am looking forward to riding Toucan Sam. He is by Frankel so he is very well bred. He may have run below form on his debut at Huntingdon. I am hoping he comes to light on his second start of his career.
Sunday
He has been a very difficult horse to train. He won a point-to-point and then fell at Warwick on his debut under Rules. This is his first run in two years and it will also be his first outing over fences. He is likely to need this experience.
Ran well in his bumper and then he was disappointing in his sole start over hurdles. He is a much better horse than that. I am expecting a lot more this time around. He will have a tongue-tie on for the first time and hopefully that will help.
He won around Wetherby first time out this season and then was disappointing at Plumpton. The ratings suggest he has a bit to find on his rivals in this race but Venetia Williams is in great form at the moment so you can’t discount him.
This horse has been a wonderful servant over the years. He is dropping down in class now which makes life easier for him. He was pulled up in the veterans’ race at Sandown earlier this year, but before that he finished second behind Blaklion at Haydock. A repeat of that run will see him in the mix.
Tom
