Daryl Jacob on his weekend rides and Aintree

Cheltenham may be over for another year but it’s a really exciting time to be in the saddle with the trainers' championships potentially going down to the wire on both sides of the Irish Sea.

I’ve obviously got fond memories of helping Paul Nicholls retain his title by winning on Neptune Collonges in the Grand National a few seasons ago and this year I could potentially help Nicky Henderson beat him to top spot.

Nicky’s got a great team to go into battle with and I really enjoy riding for him and everyone at Seven Barrows whenever I get the chance.

Most importantly, I want to do the best I can for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and hopefully the likes of Top Notch are heading to Aintree with big chances.

They’ve all had a fairly easy time since Cheltenham but I’ll be schooling them in the coming days before they go to Aintree so I suspect next week will be a really busy one.

It’d be great if Nicky won the championship this year as he’s been a good supporter for me in recent seasons and I’ll look forward to any spare rides I pick up for him before the end of the season.

Gordon Elliott, currently leading the way in Ireland, is also in flying form and I’m looking forward to getting back on Ucello Conti in the big one at Aintree.

He’s been excellent all year and was a good second in the Thyestes. He got a bit tired under top weight the last day but Gordon is a master at priming them for the day. He’ll be in tip-top shape for Aintree.

I thought I had a great chance last year coming to the third-last but he just didn’t quite get home on the soft going so some good spring ground would be perfect for him. The Becher Chase form is working out really well and he’s got a massive chance.

When it comes to the Irish title, Elliott has a massive team going forward for the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse next month, but I’ll be hoping Polidam gets in at the bottom of the weights.

He’s joined Willie Mullins from France and could be one to watch when he makes it out onto the track.

I’ve got a lot to look forward at home too, with Thursday’s easy Ludlow winner Secret Door now heading for the mares’ final at Haydock over Easter.

She had a year off so it’s nice to bring her back and very nice the way she’s done it. All roads lead to the final in three weeks’ time.

I’ve got some solid-looking rides at Straford on Saturday, starting with Talent To Amuse in the juvenile maiden hurdle.

She’s a lovely filly and enjoys her jumping. She was pretty useful on the Flat, rated 81, and it looks like a nice race to start her off in. She’ll improve for the run but it’s probably not the strongest race in the world and she’ll have a good chance.

Get Back To Me is a 10-year-old now but he doesn’t have many miles on the clock and he ran well when I rode him over hurdles at Huntingdon.

He’d had a long time off but stuck at it well there and if he avoids the bounce then he’s definitely of interest back over fences in the novices' handicap chase off a lower mark. I expect he’ll give me another good spin.

Allez Jacques takes to timber for the first time in public in the maiden hurdle after a couple of runs in bumpers. He needed it first time out and then raced a little too keenly for Aidan Coleman at Warwick, but it’s a good race to start him off in. He’s a bit of a work in progress though is not without a chance.

I’ve picked up the ride on Scooby in the handicap hurdle, but he was pulled-up at Newbury on Friday so isn't certain to line up here.