Fran Berry looks ahead to a strong book of rides at Sandown on Friday
Fran Berry is hoping to take advantage of a strong book of rides at Sandown on Friday, after a worm infestation ruined his schedule on Saturday.
Best chances
An infestation of chafer grubs feeding on the roots of the turf at Bath racecourse has dealt a blow to my weekend plans.
Not a sentence I ever thought I'd write, but the life of a jockey is at least anything but boring and although I've now only got Chupalla to look forward to at Lingfield on Saturday, thankfully I've got a promising book of rides at Sandown on Friday afternoon, where they have no such issue currently and the ground is reported to be good.
I'm on Mother Of Dragons in the opening Wall Street Journal EBF Maiden Stakes and while not quite at the super-fan level just yet, I'm getting stuck into series three of Game Of Thrones currently so well aware who this particular filly is named after.
Let's hope there's a bit more fire in her belly after a couple of slightly disappointing efforts on her last two starts. I rode her at Nottingham where she was too bad to be true and although she wasn't disgraced last time at Brighton, I'd like to see her get back to her early-season form here.
She's rated 77 and would appear to have a sound chance if running up to that level, barring the introduction of an above-average newcomer, but the draw could hardly have been worse as she's out in stall 12 of 13.
Zaajer has fared much better in that regard in the Supporting British Stallions EBF Novice Stakes.
He ran a very nice race first time up over seven furlongs at this track and being by Shamardal, as well as the way he came home on debut, would suggest he's going to enjoy going up to a mile.
It's fantastic to see Owen Burrows doing so well and it's great to be riding for Hamdan Al Maktoum again. I rode Muthmir to victory for him earlier in the season and this is obviously a lovely ride to pick up, not least because he's in stall one.
Angel Down has gone up 5lb for winning at Windsor, where he could not have done any more. I'd say some ease in the ground is key to him so that should be grand. They called it good last time but it looked a bit slower than that to me.
Henry Candy's horses have really come to hand now and this one looks a typical improver from the yard that has been brought along steadily. He's got a nice profile and hasn't done badly with the draw either in stall five in the Inkerman London Handicap.
La Celebs Ville has some good form at Haydock earlier in the year and would have a chance if recapturing that in the Kingsway Claims Fillies' Handicap, while I've ridden Grand Inquisitor the past twice and like the look of his claims in the Directorship Handicap.
It's going back a bit now but he actually beat My Dream Boat in a Sandown handicap in his early days and although that kind of comparison is a bit far-fetched now, he definitely looks to have got his mojo back lately.
He felt particularly well last time when third over course and distance here despite being drawn 10 of 12 and he breaks from stall three this time. He's found his level, clearly got his confidence again and should be thereabouts with any luck.
I've another good-looking ride for Henry Candy in the last - Capton in the Falcon Green Personnel Handicap - and I rode against him when he won at Newbury the last day. He did what no other horse did on the day as he made all on the round course and just kept galloping to fight off all-comers.
You've got to admire his attitude on that performance and there's a chance a 3lb rise might just under-estimate him.
Last Friday was a memorable one for me as I rode an Ascot double including a real personal highlight with Leader Writer winning for Henry Spiller.
He and I go back a long way to when I was second jockey for John Oxx so it was particularly rewarding to help provide Henry with a high-profile winner at Ascot. The plan with him is to go for the Cambridgeshire now and there's some confidence that he might just make the final cut.
It was a superb day, capped off by Great Hall's second Ascot win of the season after our Shergar Cup victory in August.
Soft ground is a big factor for him, he's just such an effective traveller on it, and we got a nice split at the right time. He goes into the autumn in top form for Mick Quinn and he'd have another chance of landing another big pot for the team.
He ran in a St Leger in his youth and could be heading back to Doncaster for the November Handicap all being well.
Looking at this year's Leger I'm quite surprised Capri isn't clear favourite. He's obviously the Irish Derby winner, where he beat Cracksman, and to me he's always looked like a horse who would be better over staying distances.
He looks to represent solid value against some promising horses that haven't quite yet achieved what he's achieved.
Away from the top of the market the one I like is Raheem House. He beat me well at Newmarket when I was on Desert Skyline and that's decent staying form.
He's by Sea The Stars so should keep improving as he goes up in trip and he's actually got a similar profile to some of those shorter than him in the betting. Though Aidan O'Brien's Capri is definitely the one to beat.
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