I’ll be hoping to fire in a winner or so this weekend, and have a few nice rides over Friday and Saturday at Doncaster and Chester. I’m looking forward to riding them and see how the races develop.
Doncaster, Friday
Francis Meynell is my only ride of the day on Friday in the Group 2 Flying Childers (2.25pm). He’s a smart Blue Point colt who won on his debut at Navan two weeks ago with some cut in the ground. The ground is going to be a big ask for these two-year-olds at Doncaster, but he’s shown that he can handle a bit of juice. He’s well-related, half-brother to a Group 2 winner, and was an expensive Breeze-Up, making 125,000 Guineas back in April. Michael O’Callaghan does well with colts like him, so he should have every chance.
Chester, Saturday
First up on Saturday is Band Of Joy for George Boughey in the five-furlong nursery (3.52pm). We’re drawn fairly wide in seven, which is a great shame because the track should really suit this horse – she seems to be the best in the field around these sharper tracks, having won well at both Windsor and Lingfield this year. A very consistent filly, we can put a line through her last run at Chepstow, which was too bad to be true. If she can overcome her wide draw, she’ll have a chance.
Second at Chester is Nobody Told Me in the 1m6½f handicap (4.25pm). This three-year-old was well beaten in a two-mile amateur event last time out but was never really involved. He does have some nice form on softer going, having won at Doncaster over a mile and a half, and he is back in trip from last time here which should help. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t have a nice race in him – we’ll see how he gets on.