Tom Scudamore talks through his Warwick Saturday rides
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Tom Scudamore’s Warwick rides
Coral horse racing ambassador Tom Scudamore uses his latest blog to talk through his Warwick rides on Saturday, January 14.
In the first at Warwick at 12.40 I’m riding Starlight Court for Dan Skelton. Harry Skelton isn’t riding at Warwick, and the owners have horses with David Pipe so they’ve booked me to ride. I’ve followed this horse quite closely. He came over from Ireland with a big reputation, and he hasn’t quite matched that yet. He’s a strong travelling type who will hopefully find a bit more at the business end tomorrow.
I ride Champers On Ice in the 1.50. Champers On Ice will love the ground. He seems in good order at home. I was very pleased with his first performance over fences at Uttoxeter. He won very nicely indeed in the end. The further he went the better he went and the ground can never be soft enough for him. He is going to Warwick with plenty of confidence behind him. He keeps on improving, he keeps on pleasing, and he’s a horse with plenty of potential. It’s a decent race but Champers On Ice wasn’t far behind Unowhatimeanharry in the Albert Bartlett, and so I’m very confident, and he is one of David Pipe’s big guns.
“Warwick’s fences come quick and fast down the back stretch”
Warwick is quite a jumping test as the fences come quick and fast down the back stretch, and on good ground it can be quite sharp, but on this soft ground it will be much more attritional which will suit my horse.
In the Pertemps Hurdle at 2.25 I ride Saint John Henry who is a course and distance winner. It was great to get his head back in front but this is step up in class for him. It may not have been the strongest of races he won last time but he will love the soft ground and should run a good race.
I ride Doctor Harper in the Betfred Classic Chase at 3.35. It was so annoying to just get touched off at Cheltenham last time. When I jumped the last, Tour Des Champs missed it, and I thought I’d get him but Tour Des Champs just kept on finding more up the running. Doctor Harper ran really well. It was his best race to date over fences. I think this kind of trip should be within his range and I think he has a very good chance. Although there are plenty of runners it doesn’t look the strongest renewal. I really don’t think we’ve seen the best of Doctor Harper yet.
I ride Sir Egbert in the last at 4.05 for Tom Lacey. Tom has a nice string of young horses and has a good record in these races. I have ridden a bit for him and he knows what he’s doing. Hopefully this will be an aeroplane.
Tom
