Tom Scudamore: “I think he could surprise a few people”
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Coral ambassador Tom Scudamore previews Friday’s four rides at Bangor-on-Dee.
Weather permitting, I head to Bangor-on-Dee on Friday for four rides. I don’t think it’s been as frosty up that way as it has down where we are, so with some luck, we’ll have some good racing to enjoy.
I’ve always enjoyed riding around Bangor, the fences are fair, and it’s quite sharp, so it does favour speed over stamina. You have to be able to hold your position and get into a good rhythm round there, because it’s not a place you want to be playing catch-up when you turn for home.
It seems it hasn’t been too wet there of late, so hopefully we’ll get some nice ground, but it can get extremely soft there, probably as soft as anywhere when the rain does arrive, so that can sometimes make it a bit more of a test.
He’s not a horse I’ve ridden on the track before, but he’s now 5lb lower than when he last won at Warwick in September, so the handicapper has certainly given him a chance. He can be a bit of an in and out performer, but if he returns to the form of that Warwick win, then he wouldn’t be without a chance. We know he gets a bit further than this, but the trip should be fine for him, especially in a 0-100 race like this, so hopefully he’ll go well.
He’s not getting any younger, but he has a good record around Bangor, and he’s back down to his last winning mark, so he’s another who is certainly weighted to win if putting his best foot forward. Even though he was beaten a long way at Chepstow two starts ago, he didn’t run too badly that day, and if he isn’t in need of this run after 265-days off the track, then he could go well at an each-way price.
He didn’t run too badly at Kempton last time, he just got outpaced at a crucial stage, but then stayed on again. I think he could surprise a few people if he’s a bit sharper for that outing, so he certainly wouldn’t be without a chance. He has won over fences in France, and he was bought to be a chaser, but he just didn’t jump well enough when he first joined us. I’m sure he’ll go over fences again at some stage, but for now he’ll probably stay over hurdles.
This is obviously her debut run, so we don’t know much about her, but she’s very well-bred being a daughter of Golden Horn out of a Dubawi mare. Jeremy Scott has a very good record in bumpers, so I’m sure she’ll be able to do herself justice. Donald McCain has a very good record round here, so I’m sure his horse Ballybeg Boss is the one we all have to beat.
Tom
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