Gavin Sheehan: Out to bag more points in Jockeys' Cup quest

There was no let up on the weather front last weekend. Kempton on Saturday was called off and I had to detour to Ffos Las where I picked up a couple of rides. I did leave with a win and a second, though, so it wasn’t a disaster by any means.

No racing on Sunday meant I got to spend the day at the Farmer’s Dog, Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub. I’m a big fan of the show so it was great to get down there with my partner and her two brothers for a Sunday lunch. I’m no food critic but the meal was very good. I think Jeremy is actually involved with a horse called The Hawkstonian trained by Ben Pauling and I think it’s great to have characters like him getting involved the sport. Apart from that I’ve been a lot busier riding out this week as the weather has mellowed and horses are getting back into their routine. On that note, I'm at Ascot on Saturday for a great day’s racing highlighted by the Clarence House Chase and then on to Windsor for the final day of the Berkshire Winter Millions meeting.

In the 2m5f chase (2.15) I ride Terresita and will be hoping to pick up some Jockeys’ Cup points. She’s running off a career-high mark in this after finishing third around here last time. It was a really good race, but things just happened a bit quick for her that day. She didn’t mind the track at all though, and the ground should be a bit slower for her here which I think she’ll appreciate. Before that run she won a Listed race and I think she’ll have every chance.

Laurens Bay (4.02) is a really nice, big, scopey horse and I’m happy to be riding him for Jamie Snowden. He’s taken a bit of time to get ready and he can be quite workmanlike, but 2m5f around here should suit him. It’s not a big field, and that shouldn’t matter to him, but he is a progressive horse and hopefully he can back up his win from last time in this. 

Guard Duty (1.20) is a horse that I probably should have won on in his last race when he finished second at Lingfield. I felt like I was on the best horse in the race on that occasion and it's never ideal when you don’t win and you feel like that, but hopefully knowing him a bit more now, I can go one better and get the result in this. 

Git Maker (2.30) has been off the track since April of last year when he was third in the Scottish Grand National and before that finished second at the Cheltenham Festival. He ran a massive race in the former and I was really pleased with him. Coming back to hurdles in this I’d imagine he’s a horse that will need the run, but I'm hoping he can run a respectable race. 

I ride Animal (3.40) in the Fitzdares Winter Stayers' Handicap Chase over an extended three and a half miles. The plan was originally to run in the Sussex Grand National earlier this month but unfortunately that meeting fell to the weather. I think he might just suit this track, and if the field end up going quite quickly (which I think they will do) then it should suit him as he’s a hold up horse and can pick up the pieces. He’s still off a winnable mark so hopefully he can go well. 

Finally, I ride One Knight (4.10) who won a bumper at a big price but his odds will be shorter here now that he has shown we can go. He’s a nicely bred horse and I actually won on his mother in a Listed race some seven years ago! It’s great to be back in the colours of Paul Jacobs, but I think the horse to beat in this will be El Cairos for Gary and Josh Moore who showed a lot of speed and class when winning at Newbury.