Barry Geraghty: Shishkin for me in the Ascot Chase

William Hill’s new racing ambassador Barry Geraghty looks ahead to Saturday’s Ascot Chase, and offers his opinion on the retiring Tom Scudamore.

Tom Scudamore retirement

You can never say it’s a shock as Tom Scu is at that age where there isn’t long left in anyone. I’m sure it’s something he’s been thinking about for a while and he’s had a couple of heavy spills lately. It’s good for him to be able to get out in one piece.

He was a brilliant rider, a brilliant fella to be around and he’ll be missed by the lads as he was a cornerstone of the English weighing room. He was a great thinker and always very level-headed, so he had a really strong influence on the younger jockeys. He would always talk well and be strong and influential in the stewards’ room. I’d like to congratulate him on a great career and wish all the very best in his retirement.

3000 winners for Philip 

Philip Hobbs is a brilliant trainer and a real gentleman. His results have shown that and to get to 3000 winners is an unbelievable achievement. He was just a class act to ride for. His partnership with Richard Johnson lasted such a long time and then Tom O’Brien has taken over after being number two to Richard for so long. It was brilliant for Tom to be the one to ride Philip’s 3000th winner, and it was a brilliant ride on Zanza.

I had some great days with Philip over the years. Obviously Defi Du Seuil was one of the main highlights, he was a fantastic horse. Congratulations to Philip!

Ascot on Saturday

The big race of the day is the Ascot Chase (3:35) and it looks like a good race, as it usually is. Fakir D’Oudairies is ultra-consistent and won this last year. He’s a great performer, but I think SHISHKIN stepping up in trip and after his wind op will represent a bigger challenge than what he beat 12 months ago.

There’s a bit of forgiveness needed with Shishkin based on his Champion Chase run, but he didn’t run a bad race in the Tingle Creek. He was flat to the boards the whole way, but he was still there pitching three out when he made a mistake. The wind issue he had would have compounded that as well.

He needs this trip now he’s got a bit older and I think he’ll be hard to beat. Pic D’Orhy is three from three this season but they’ve all been on flat tracks and I wonder if that might be something he needs.

It certainly isn’t a vintage renewal of the Reynoldstown (1:50). The lack of rain will have played its part but it’s also getting close to Cheltenham for horses to run now and at the Festival. I won the Ascot Chase on Riverside Theatre in 2012 and he then made hard work of winning the Ryanair a few weeks later. It was the same with O’Faolains Boy a couple of years later, who won the Reynoldstown and then just scraped home in the RSA. It can take the edge off horses.

BOLD ENDEAVOR is two from two since joining Nicky [Henderson] and he should be hard to beat in this. Kinondo Kwetuhas won his last six, but this is a big step up.

I thought PHEONIX WAY was the interesting one in the Swinley Chase (2:25) stepping up in trip. Although well beaten in Cheltenham the last day, he stayed on well to finish fourth and he is now down to the same mark where he won in Ascot last season. I still think there could be more to come from him.

Haydock on Saturday

A bit like the Reynoldstown, the Rendlesham Hurdle (2:05) doesn’t look like the strongest of Grade 2s. ASHTOWN LAD has been very consistent this season, winning the Becher Chase and then running well in a couple of handicap hurdles either side of that. His main target will be the Grand National, but he might not be far away in this.

Venetia Williams looks to hold a strong hand in the Grand National Trial (2:40) with Fontaine Collonges and QUICK WAVE. At the prices, I would side with the latter if you can forgive her run in the Welsh National. That came pretty quickly after an impressive win in Sandown and after a near two-month break, she should do better here.

Wincanton on Saturday

There isn’t much between First Street and KNAPPERS HILL in the ratings or the betting for the Kingwell Hurdle (3:12), but I would be with Paul Nicholls’ runner. He was very good over course and distance when beating Sceau Royal in the Elite Hurdle and he can make it three from three at this track.

Gowran Park on Saturday

HAUT EN COULEURS bids for compensation in the Red Mills Chase (3:27) after an unlucky fall at the last in Thurles when he would have beaten Fakir D’Oudairies. That was a big improvement and if he was to win this well, connections might think about supplementing him for the Ryanair Chase. He’s only six so there could be more to come.