Top jockey Daryl Jacob reflects on his latest week in the saddle before commenting on his upcoming rides... weather permitting.
Shakem Up’Arry runs a cracker in Tolworth
Shakem Up'Arry ran really well for me in the Tolworth at Sandown last Saturday, we were delighted with him. It was a nice performance and obviously the winner looks a very good horse.
The handicapper has bumped him up 6lb for finishing second, which isn’t ideal with handicap hurdles in mind, but you can see why as we were a long way clear of the third in a Grade One.
He’s progressing nicely and while he could go for something like a Betfair Hurdle, I do have my doubts as to whether he will be a quick enough hurdler for a race like that.
He’s a smashing chasing prospect, though, and has plenty of potential in that sphere.
One away from the full set
It was great to win at Catterick aboard Thomas Macdonagh for Jamie Snowden on Sunday, I don’t go up there very often and I’m only a winner at Cartmel away from having had a victory at every jumps track in the UK.
He’s a nice horse, an old-fashioned type of chaser and I do think he can progress further.
As for ticking off the Cartmel box, I’d love to ride a winner up there this summer. It’d be a great thing to say I’d ridden a winner at every jumps track in the UK so it’s on my radar, for sure.
Great to ride a winner @catterickraces. Just need a winner @Cartmelrace now to get a full set of winners at all UK tracks pic.twitter.com/4CZyjdGNzC
— Daryl Jacob (@Dazjacob10) January 3, 2021
Back to Black in jumpers’ bumper
With Taunton off on Friday I’m off to Lingfield to ride Black Kalanisi in a jumpers' bumper and I’m a huge fan of the concept.
It’s actually a shame that they only roll them out when the weather turns bad, I wouldn’t mind seeing a more structured and regular programme for them as they are a great option for several horses.
Some horses just don’t go on the horrible testing ground that heavy frosts can help produce and running on a nice all-weather surface is a better option for a significant proportion of jumps horses in the winter.
I’d like to see more of the races, even if it was just once a week throughout a specified period of the season.
Black Kalanisi is a prime example as he got bogged down in the Fontwell mud last time out. He likes good ground and he’s had a small break since he last run so I’m hopeful he can put in a good run.
Wincanton Saturday runners
There’s obviously a chance that we’ll have no racing at Wincanton on Saturday because of the cold weather and I might well reroute to Kempton to ride Call Me Lord in the Relkeel – if indeed Kempton survives.
I do hope Wincanton goes ahead as I’ve got six rides at the track, headed by MESSIRE DES OBEAUX who is in the rescheduled Paddy Power Dipper Novices’ Chase from Cheltenham.
That’s given us a bit more time and that’s suited him as he was coming back from a long time off last time.
I schooled him on Monday at Alan King’s and he seems really well and fresh in himself, he obviously won at Wincanton last time out so we know he likes the track and if they went a good gallop that would suit him, too.
Malinello goes in the novices’ hurdle at 11.52 and I was impressed with him at Market Rasen last month.
He did it very nicely and he’s already got a rating of 133 after two runs, so he could be smart. He’ll be a nice chaser in time as well.
Ginger Du Val hasn’t run for us yet, but she’s a French bumper winner and she goes nicely at home, so we’re looking forward to getting her out in the maiden hurdle on the card.
Ede’iffs Elton is a last-time out winner in the novices’ handicap chase and has to defy a 9lb rise in the weights.
He was impressive last time and I’m always delighted to ride for my good friend Robert Walford given he came from Robert and Sally Alner’s camp, we go back a long way.
Thunderstruck has dropped down the weights quickly and will have his conditions in the 1.30 Handicap Hurdle so he’s not without a chance for Emma Lavelle and Anightinlambourn has been running okay in handicaps, as well.
Fingers crossed the card gets the green light!
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