Fran Berry looks ahead to a strong book of rides at Newbury on Saturday
A great week for Fran Berry could get even better at Newbury on Saturday as the top jockey looks ahead to his rides in his latest blog.
It's been a great week since my last blog and Capton got the ball rolling on Friday.
I was hopeful of a good run from him and he won well at Sandown to land his second win in a row and provide me with my first winner for Henry Candy. It was a good performance, he looks progressive and is one to keep on the right side of.
I didn't have a ride last Saturday after Bath was cancelled but that meant I was able to watch the St Leger and what looked to be a vintage renewal produced a fabulous finish. Hopefully one or two of my readers will have backed Capri as I was sweet on his chances and he showed the great heart to see off his challengers as he did in the Irish Derby.
That aptitude is just what you need in a stayer and he has the potential to become the next Yeats or Order Of St George for his connections.
Sunday at Ffos Las made up for missing Bath the day before as I had four rides for David Evans and three of them won. David actually said to me before the first ride that he wasn't too sure about my chances in that race but the next three would win!
All the horses were in good shape, handled the testing ground well and it all went to plan.
It was a great day as was yesterday when Great Hall provided me with another win at Yarmouth; he's been a star for me this season. I'd ridden quite a bit for Mick Quinn before the Shergar Cup but to get drawn on him that day was just the sort of luck you need in that competition. We went back to Ascot and won again over 12 furlongs and he's improved again for the step up to 14 furlongs on Thursday.
It's been a fantastic training performance from Mick to keep him in top shape since August but we'll wait and see what the handicapper does before deciding where to go next. The November Handicap has actually been the long term plan and that is still a possible but he won from 100 on Thursday and it could be worth having a look at a Listed or Group Three race over 14 furlongs while he's in this form.
I'm close to home at my local track, Newbury, on Saturday and it's good to be busy.
I start off on Epic Fantasy and his owners have enjoyed a fantastic time of late with Decorated Knight winning the Irish Champion Stakes at the start of the month. He's a well bred Invincible Spirit colt so he looks the part on paper and will hopefully go well but I'm sure he'll improve from whatever he does in the Wedgewood Estates EBF Novice Stakes.
*I'm looking forward to riding Erik The Red in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap as I've ridden against him at York this season. He's a strong travelling horse so I don't think the drop back to 10 furlongs will be an issue even though he ran very well last time over 12. He's off 100 now but he was second in the November Handicap last season so has a touch of class and should still be competitive in these premier handicaps. A wide draw isn't ideal even though he is a hold-up horse and his chance will depend on the pace to some extent as the bend comes up quick enough at Newbury. If the leaders go steady on the side, it can be hard to reel them in in the straight but if they go a good even gallop, you can ride any sort of race.
Goldream is a lovely ride to pick up in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes. He had a fabulous time in 2015, winning the Abbaye and the King's Stand and his run in the Temple Stakes in May when he was second to Priceless showed that he can still mix with the top sprinters when he's on song.
Most of his form this season doesn't match up to that level but he wasn't beaten far in the Nunthorpe last time on ground that probably wasn't ideal. He's back down in class and conditions should be ideal if it stays dry and he's running against a number of horses that he's beaten in the past so it's not impossible to see him going well even if this does look an ultra-competitive renewal.
I finish with two rides for David (Evans) and it's probably a case of wait and see with both but I'll be hoping that the yard's form brings out the best in them.
Sea Fox has basically been out of form and is dropping down the handicap after a terrific time as a juvenile where he ran well in Listed and Group Three races. As a son of Kodiac, he's not exactly bred for a mile and a half but perhaps the trip will help to bring about some improvement.
I rode Awesome Allan at Windsor in June and was only beaten a nose on him. I liked him that day but he's been quite disappointing since and is 8lbs lower now. On that run and his better races, he'd have a chance and although he's not shown it yet the seven furlongs of the Heatherwold Stud Handicap may just suit.
He stayed on after being outpaced at Windsor over five and the longer trip may well help him travel better for longer but he has shown all of his best form at Windsor.
* Following the abandonment of Ayr, Erik The Red will now be ridden by his regular jockey Kevin Stott.
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