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Daryl Jacob on his weekend rides at Ascot and Thurles
Daryl Jacob reflects on a good week in the saddle and looks ahead to his choice weekend rides at Ascot and Thurles.
It's been a good week with a couple of nice winners and others shaping with promise for the future.
I was very happy with Goa Lil at Kempton. He's improved with every run and learned how to settle. There's more to come from him as he's still a long way off from being the finished article but it was a pleasant surprise to see him win as well as he did. It just goes to show how he's matured of late and with a bit of luck he'll head to Musselburgh next for their Triumph Hurdle Trial.
I've read people saying they were disappointed with Top Notch's run in the Unibet Silviniaco Conti Chase but two miles five round there was always going to be sharp enough for him. He was in against a horse in Frodon who is able to jump and go and he was back on song. When he won the Peterborough Chase, my horse was just about able to hang onto their coat-tails before getting to them late but the pace of the race at Kempton was just too fast for him. He's better at three miles nowadays and there was no disgrace in being beaten by the Ryanair Chase winner.
Caribean Boy is a nice horse for the future and he belatedly made his first start for us in the Sky Bet Cheltenham Non Runner No Bet Beginners' Chase at Doncaster on Tuesday. He eventually finished third behind The Big Bite but had a nice blow out and jumped fantastically well. He enjoyed the ground and fingers crossed is one to be excited about moving forward.
Another lovely prospect is Shakem Up'arry who finished second to Shishkin in the MansionBet Proud To Sponsor British Racing Novices' Hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday.
I thought it rode like a really good race and all the way up the home straight I thought I'd win as I had plenty of horse left. I couldn't believe it when Nico De Boinville came past me and I think the winner is very, very good. He could easily go on and win a Sky Bet Supreme or Ballymore because I really like my horse who has a very bright future of his own.
Fix Sun had been off the track for a little while before winning at Market Rasen on Thursday. It was great to have him back and even better to see him win as he did. He's another with a bright future and will be better again with another summer on his back.
I have a nice book of rides at Ascot on Saturday starting with Homer in the opening Ascot IJF Ambassador Programme Juvenile Hurdle. He ran OK at Kempton over Christmas when he'll have slightly needed the outing. He'll have learned from it too and Ascot should play to his strengths. Obviously Goshen is going to be very hard to beat but I hope my fellow progresses from Kempton. He should.
Ballymoy won the Matchbook Holloway's Handicap Hurdle last year and heads back there after disappointing over fences this term. I still believe he's a very good horse although he has a big weight on his back here - he's only two pounds higher than in 2019.
Kildisart enjoyed a great season last term but has been slightly below par in both starts this time around. I schooled him on Wednesday morning and he seemed to have a bit more life about him and what I really want from him in the bet365 Handicap Chase is a performance to get him back on track.
We're looking for that spark he showed last year for all it can be difficult for a second season chaser making the transition into open handicap company.
Janika is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He doesn't seem good enough to win a Grade One but is too high in the handicap to drop back into those. On heavy ground, two miles and a furlong is probably his trip while if it's quicker he's effective at two-and-a-half. He takes on Defi Du Seuil and Un De Sceaux in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase and while realistically can't beat that pair if they're at their best, can hopefully pick up some nice prize money.
On Sunday I head to Thurles for a couple of cracking rides.
Footpad didn't seem to stay in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase having looked a danger to them all four out. The drop back in trip for the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase should really suit him and while there are some useful rivals in there, it would be nice to get him back in the winning groove.
Anthony Bromley looks to have found a nice opening for him.
Texard won really nicely at Cork last time and runs in the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle. He's a work in progress still as he's still a little weak and backward but is definitely coming to hand.
Whatever he does over hurdles, he's going to be a much more exciting chaser down the line and it will be good to get back on him and feel how he's progressed.