Ben Jones: Pic Roc my biggest hope at Cheltenham this week

I’m currently in eighth spot in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup and from day one I’ve just been trying to get as many points on the board as possible, but I’m quite lucky that I’ll be riding at Cheltenham with some really nice chances. Hopefully I can pick up a few points, climb a spot or two higher on the leaderboard, and try and keep the Irish raiders from having all the winners this week!

Riding at Cheltenham is full of expectation and anticipation, it’s the biggest stage of them all, but I’ll just keep my head down and try and get on with the job at hand. If you let the occasion get to you, you’re not going to go out there and perform at your best.

In the Grand Annual today, I’m riding General Medrano (4.40) for Emma Levelle. He has been a brilliant servant this year and hasn’t been out of the money, so I think he’ll have a really good each-way chance. The field are guaranteed to go a good gallop, and I think he’ll be there at the finish to pick up the pieces.

I’m aboard Caballero Cliff (5.20) in the Champion Bumper for Rob Stephens. He was last seen running at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when finishing fourth under Sean Houlihan. I was riding in that race for Ben Pauling and finished second with a horse I really like. We only beat Caballero Cliff a length and a half that day and we’ve franked that form by going on to win a nice Saturday race at Kempton next time out. If he runs to that form again here, we could have a nice each-way chance at a big price.

As for the rest of the week, Pic Roc, in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2.00) on Thursday is probably my ride of the week. I think he’s probably got a better chance than his odds suggest – I think there’s a pound or two of improvement still to come from him.