It’s been a good season for me. I’ve ridden 44 winners (up from 20 in 2020) and I’m very keen to try and hit 50 before the end of the year.
A special thanks to my agent Guy Jewell who I have been working again with this year. He has made a huge difference and helped me secure rides across the board. A huge thank you to all the trainers and owners that have supported me this season with a special word for Andrew Balding, David Simcock and Tom Dascombe, who have provided me with a good number of winners!
I would say my highlight would have been my treble at York in July which included the Listed winner for Richard Hannon on Aristia. It was also a great thrill to bring up 900 winners (also at York)!
SATURDAY – ASCOT
1:25 – Long Distance Cup
The big two (Stradivarius 10/3 and Trueshan 7/4) will both be hard to beat but they had hard races in France only two weeks ago on very soft ground. I think it could be worth chancing a horse who comes into the race a bit fresher. Berkshire Rocco 14/1 was a very good three-year-old last season who finished 2nd in the St Leger and then won here at Ascot on his last start. He ran a good race on his domestic comeback last month and with cheek pieces on, I think he could run a big race.
3:10 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
What a race this is! Palace Pier has only been beaten once in his career and Baaeed 5/2 comes into it unbeaten! It’s exactly why this race day was created and it should be a race for the ages. I’d be siding with the proven champion in Palace Pier 6/4. He always just seems to do enough and his only defeat came when he lost a shoe on very soft ground last year.
3:50 Champion Stakes
This is another cracking race! Mishriff 13/8 and Adayar 7/4 faced each other in the King George over 1m 4f and the huge weight allowance for three-year-olds just paid. Mishriff looked back to his best in the Juddmonte and he arrives here after a break, whereas Adayar had a hard race in the Arc in Paris. I’d be siding with the Gosden horse here.
Stay safe and I look forward to returning with my blogs in the Spring!
Hayley!
*All odds correct at time of writing.