YOU know how they say mud packs are good for the skin?
Well we’ve certainly put that one to the test this week.
The weather has been so shocking that anyone with shares in washing powder and shower gel must have cleaned up!
It’s definitely been a time for 4 x 4s rather than supercars…and fortunately for me that’s what I’ve got with my two rides at Haydock this afternoon.
The horse equivalent, at least.
Both my rides love to get their toe in, which is just as well because it’s definitely going to be a day for the mudlarks.
First up I’m on RED RISK (2.40) in the Rendlesham and he certainly won’t shy away from anything however deep it gets.
He ran a nice race for a long way in the Long Walk last time and dropping down to a Grade 2 looks a lovely opportunity for him.
He’s a brilliant little horse and so calculated in his racing – I‘m really looking forward to getting out there on him.
I schooled him in the week and he was brilliant, such a star — you could go blindfolded.
The general rule of thumb is soft ground lovers have a big stride pattern and high knee action, so in that respect Red Risk goes against the grain.
He’s got a bit of a point to his toe, which would usually mean they like it quicker, but he skips through the soft and is so tough.
His will power of wanting to gallop over-rides his physique and he’s great fun. Red Risk is owned by a great syndicate and he should give them a good run.
Then I’m on ISAAC DES OBEAUX (4.25) in the Albert Bartlett Novices , another Grade 2.
He’s a real strong horse, heavy in his frame – definitely more of a 4×4, as I was saying!
He just ploughs through this ground like it’s not there, he’ll enjoy himself and the step up in trip is what he’s been crying out for.
Isaac is a big shaped horse who’s taken a bit of time to work out where his legs are and struggled getting into first gear.
But he’s found the clutch now and knows how to put it into sixth means he is another lovely opportunity for me.
He’s owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and the Barbers, and it’s always a real thrill to wear those famous silks.
The ground will have probably deteriorated even more by the time we go to post, but that doesn’t worry me and he has a great chance.
So does Stavvy, incidentally, a lovely young horse of Jane Chapple-Hyam’s who I ride in the bumper at Southwell tomorrow.
He made massive steps forward in his two runs so far at Doncaster – I was third on him in the last one – and it wouldn’t take too much more to go very close here.
A responsible gambler is someone who:
