Tom Scudamore: “We might have found a nice opportunity for Neon Moon here”

Coral ambassador previews his rides at Chepstow’s Coral-sponsored card on Saturday

Chepstow 12.50 – Boyhood

Let’s hope the rescheduled Coral Welsh National card gets the go ahead on Saturday morning, as it’s a massive day in the jumps season, and it will be a big loss if the bad weather intervenes once again.

I start my day on Boyhood for trainer Tom George. I’ve not ridden him before but he’s got some useful form in the book, although not on his most recent run, so he will need to improve for that.  On the plus side he’s a winner on heavy so conditions will hold no fears.

Chepstow 13.25 – Adagio

I ride Adagio in the Grade 1 Coral Finale, and he’s a horse I rate very highly. We were beaten only by Gordon Elliott’s Duffle Coat at Cheltenham in November, and then went back to that course and won nicely last month. You can question what he beat but the manner of his victory was very pleasing.

Obviously the shape of the race changed when Gordon’s pair [Duffle Coat and Quilixios] were unable to travel from Ireland, that left Gary Moore’s Nassalam as clear favourite, and while he’s won his two starts at Fontwell convincingly, we only have 4 pounds to find with him. This is where we’ll find out if Adagio is Grade 1 class. My only slight concern is that really heavy ground won’t suit him as much as the better ground he’s been running on, but he is a horse I really like.

Chepstow 14.30 – Neon Moon

Neon Moon ran well on his first start for the yard, in what was probably a decent bumper for the grade, and we’re not wasting any time in getting him over hurdles.

Of the others who have already run over hurdles, Easy As That sets the standard, although he was beaten at Bangor. If my fellow takes to it, which I think he will, David [Pipe] could have found a nice opportunity for him and we can be hopeful of a big run.

Chepstow 15.10 – Ramses De Teillee

In the big race, I once again had to make the choice between Ramses De Teillee, and Vieux Lion Rouge. Obviously I picked the wrong one at Aintree last month, where Ramses just didn’t jump well enough, and Vieux did what he does so well over the National fences, and he is four pounds well in here, but I’ve kept the faith with the younger stablemate. He loves Chepstow, and was second in the Coral Welsh National in 2018.

Although we’re slightly worse off with Yala Enki from our Cheltenham victory over him, these testing conditions will suit my horse, and the extra couple of weeks break since Aintree should also help him.

I’m happy to put a line through that Becher Chase run and I do think he’s more consistent than Vieux.  Whatever happens, I think it’s lovely that the race is being run in memory of Kim Gingell, and if I can’t win it, I hope Christmas In April can for the Tizzards, and I’m sure that’s a sentiment shared by most of the runners.

Tom