Tom Scudamore: “I’m very sweet on Timeforben’s chances.”
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Top jockey rides at Cheltenham this Saturday
Saturday
Dell’ Arca has had a good summer, winning over hurdles, winning on the flat and then ran a cracking race in the Kerry National.
He’s been a bit of an in and out performer in the past but he seems better than ever at the moment.
He must have a very good chance in what is a very competitive race. He has a really solid each way chance.
I think the ground will ride on the quick side but we will see. They do a good job with the ground at Cheltenham but there just isn’t any rain about.
Lillington is another horse that has had a great summer. He’s won twice and this is a big step up in class. That said it’s not as competitive a race as it would have been if the ground had been softer.
I’m doing 10 stone which is reasonably comfortable for me, it just means I’m a bit grumpier than usual.
On a normal day I would be around 10 stone 1 pound stripped, so to do 10 stone in a race I will need to get down to 9 stone 11 pounds.
So I won’t eat much tonight, then I’ll have a hot bath first thing, then go and ride out, followed by a run and then a spell in the sauna, and that should do it.
She is another that has had an amazing summer. I think the nature of the race will suit her.
She is running off a career high mark, but she has improved with every single run and I think a big field and a strong pace will really suit her. I’m very sweet on her chances.
He has some reasonable Irish point to point form. I saw him the other week when I was down at the Tizzards’ and he is a fine looking horse.
He will have to step up on what he’s done so far, but Colin Tizzard is great at improving horses. We’ll find out a lot more about him tomorrow.
I haven’t ridden him before. He won his first bumper and then had a crack at the Cheltenham Champion bumper and came 17th.
The fact that they thought him good enough to run in that shows you what they think of him.
This won’t be as competitive as the Champion Bumper but it is still a decent race and Colin’s other horse, Master Debonair, is also well regarded and won well at Sedgefield.
Sunday – Aintree
I like this horse a lot. He ran really nicely in his bumper and has really improved over the summer.
I can’t wait to see how he runs at Aintree on Sunday. He has really impressed me at home.
He won twice last year and has been a good servant for us. He took well to fences last season and he’s dropping back to hurdles here.
He’s in good form at home and I think a race like this is well within his threshold. I’m confident of a big run.
He had a great season last year. It will be interesting to see where we are with him.
He just fell a little bit short in the best company at the Cheltenham Festival and then again at Cheltenham in April.
Off his handicap mark the Old Roan Chase was a viable target and we’ll see how we fare.
Weeks ahead
It’s nice to get some of David’s out and there are plenty of nice horses that we’re looking forward to running once the rain comes.
Thistlecrack could do with some rain for the Charlie Hall Chase. There is some forecast. I’m sure it will be a watching brief for Colin and the team. He’s very fit and very well, and we could just do with a drop of rain.
Colin has a whole load of nice horses that are ready to run, so had David, and my brother Michael and Neil Mulholland, and they are all just waiting for some rain.
Tom
