Daryl Jacob looks ahead to three big weekend rides
Daryl Jacob has three rides this weekend - and all of the trio could book their place at the big spring festivals.
Daryl's weekend rides
I'd like to start the blog this week by paying tribute to Malcolm Jefferson. He was a wonderful man, a fantastic trainer and my thoughts are with his family and friends.
Jockey James Banks is retiring and he will be sadly missed in the weighing room. He was a very good, brave, rider who gave everything 100%. I wish him all the best for the future.
Moving onto this weekend I only have three rides but they are all interesting.
Terrefort is first up in the Grade One Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown. He certainly impressed the handicapper on his first start over here at Huntingdon as he was raised a stone to a mark of 151 off the back of it.
That forced our hand to come down this route and we'll find out an awful lot more about him on Saturday. I liked his performance the last day, he travelled and jumped well, and this race will tell us where we will be going in the spring.
He gets an age allowance from his four rivals here and I hope he runs very well.
I head up to Musselburgh on Sunday where We Have A Dream runs in the bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle.
He is three from three over timber and landed the Grade One Finale Hurdle at Chepstow last time. He has a penalty for that success here so concedes weight all round but I hope he's capable and in doing so underlines his JCB Triumph Hurdle claims.
He'll appreciate the sounder surface here and I'm looking forward to seeing him back in action.
Callet Mad disappointed at Doncaster last week and we just need to get him back on track. The handicapper has dropped him three pounds so we run in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle.
If he runs well he'll qualify for the final at Cheltenham in March which would give us another spring option for him. The track might be on the sharp side for him but he's another who'll appreciate the better ground.
Whole lot more to come
Wholestone ran well in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last week. He just got outstayed by a real heavy ground specialist. He was raised six pounds to 161 off the back of it which puts him bang there for the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle and better ground in March will suit him.
Bristol De Mai disappointed in the Cotswold Chase. He's never been the easiest horse to train but we'll take him back home and see if we can get him back on track for either Cheltenham or Aintree.
Sceau Royal did it nicely up at Doncaster in the Lightning Novices' Chase. He'd missed a few days work in the prep and Alan King can really step up his preparation for the Racing Post Arkle now. He's one I'm really looking forward to for March.
Finally it was nice to see L'Ami Serge run through the line in the Sky Bet Chase. He found plenty off the bridle and is holding his form much better this season than has been the case in the past. He's produced three solid runs now and we know he's a horse who comes alive in the spring.
With a bit of sun on his back and quicker ground, there's a lot to look forward to with him.
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