TODAY may be Gold Cup day but I’m dreaming of Silver in the County Hurdle.
I’m on STOLEN SILVER (2.10) for my dad and he’s got a really decent chance.
A stiff two miles will suit him down to the ground, especially because the rain we’ve had will have softened it up.
A lot of people put him in the notebook after the Betfair Hurdle, when he was last two out and overtook loads in the last furlong.
The stiff finish here is bang up his street and, if he can hang onto their coat tails in the soft ground, hopefully he will be picking them off at the end.
I fell off him here in his maiden hurdle but he’s also got decent Cheltenham form when second to Chantry House, so fingers crossed.
There are a lot of positives, although I am sure there will be a lot of people thinking the same as me.
In the Albert Bartlett I ride REDFORD ROAD (2.50) and if you wrote off his last run, he would be a much shorter price.
Obviously Thyme Hill looks really decent but at the same time we are learning about our fella. He looks great, has won a Grade 2 here and will jump fences next year.
In the Grand Annual CAID DU LIN (4.50) is a bit of a monkey. If he turned up in a good mood he could run really well, if he was in a bad one he could be awful.
He does have the ability to run a big race — it’s all down to what mood he wakes up in this morning.
As for the Gold Cup itself, being a family man I would love Bristol De Mai to win it — he’s too big a price, for sure. But, if he doesn’t, then Clan Des Obeaux is the one for me.
He gave me a great feel in the King George, jumped fantastic, and has been trained for the race.
And as you saw in the Champion Chase, Paul Nicholls is a master when he does that.
It should be a hell of a race. He looked a picture when he did his work the other day. I was in behind on Politologue and Clan looked really good in what he did.
Talking of Politologue, I was ready to go, but that’s racing. I was in the gym last Thursday and Paul rang me to say the owner John Hales wanted to use Harry Skelton.
It’s fair enough. He’s the owner and pays the bills, so he gets to make the choices.
I’ll keep smiling because hopefully there will be a day down the line when it works in our favour.
