Daryl Jacob can't do the weight on Vyta Du Roc in the Ladbrokes Trophy so he heads to Bangor for five rides and he's hopeful of a couple of winners.
It’s a shame I can’t do the weight on Vyta Du Roc in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury as I don’t think it’s the greatest renewal of what was the Hennessy.
I’m not sure it’s as hot a race as it was last year even and Vyta was a good sixth in that renewal off a 3lb higher mark.
He’s learnt plenty since then and he had a lovely run over hurdles up at Aintree which was the perfect pipe opener for him. He must have a great each-way chance and I’ll be cheering him on from the Bangor weighing room where I head for five rides.
My best chance of the afternoon is on a horse called Pulp Fiction in the Corbetts Malpas Horse Feed Supplies “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at 2.05.
He’s a lovely horse of Ben Case’s, I schooled him on Monday and he felt great. He was beaten a nose on his hurdling debut at Worcester a couple of weeks ago and he’s strongly fancied to go one better on Saturday.
In the handicap chase at 1.00 I ride Uno Valoroso for Mark Walford for the first time since his novice hurdle days many moons ago.
He’s got a chance on his best form and won’t mind the ground, either. He had a little pipe opener over hurdles at Hexham so he must have a chance in this small field.
I also ride three for Ben Pauling starting with Treaty Girl in the Bangor On Dee Handicap Chase at 1.35.
She’s been pulled up the last two times she has run but she’s not as bad as those form figures suggest and she’s been working well.
Hopefully there will be plenty of pace on in this to make it a test of stamina as she’s a real good stayer. Ben’s put a first-time tongue-tie on her so hopefully that’ll help her see out her race this time.
Stablemate Marten runs in the Roger And Carola Glover Golden Wedding Novices’ Hurdle at 2.40 and he’s a good stayer that won first-time out under Nico de Boinville.
He easily pulled away from a horse of Jonjo O’Neill’s that day at Southwell and he’s a nice, tough, honest horse with plenty of stamina.
Looking to the future he’s a chaser in the making, but hopefully he can defy a penalty and get another win under his belt over hurdles for me on Saturday.
Finally, Legal Eyes in the bumper at 3.45 and I think Ben quietly fancies him.
I think he’ll come on for it fitness-wise, but he’s been working well and Ben’s bumper horses have been going great guns all season, so we’d have to be hopeful of another big run.