Don’t miss the latest column from Unibet ambassador Nico de Boinville as he looks ahead to a big weekend of rides
Nico gives an update on some of his big chances over the weekend including two nice runners at Newbury
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WE all try to keep doing what we’re doing on the run up to the Cheltenham Festival but I have to report one of my fellow jockeys has made a rather drastic lifestyle change recently.
My old pal David Bass – him of the Jeremy Corbyn love affair – has decided to go vegan.
Dickie Johnson, who’s from a proper Herefordshire farming family, gave him a lift up to Ayr the other day and was told about this latest news.
Apparently, Dickie came close to dumping him on the hard shoulder.
I don’t think I’ll be inviting Bassy around for supper any time soon – I’m not sure I know how to make a quinoa salad.
I’ll probably take him down the pub after Cheltenham and tempt him with a nice steak. I can’t see it lasting too long.
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Luckily for him he’s up at Doncaster today so the mickey taking will have to wait as I’ve got two rides at Newbury.
The first of them - A Hare Breath (1.30) - hasn’t been seen out since December when he finished last at Cheltenham but I thought he ran alright.
He was giving weight to the winner Al Dancer and we all know what he’s gone on to do.
It rode like a very good race and Al Dancer is now favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle so in hindsight it was always going to be tough for an old boy like A Hare Breath against top younger horses.
He’s had a nice break since then and he does tend to run his best races when fresh.
Ben Pauling’s horses are starting to hit top gear at the right time of year which is good to see so I hope he can find his old form.
Potentially he is really well handicapped but he would have to wind the clock back a bit.
These ‘seniors’ hurdles races should really be for veterans like A Hares Breath who have been around the block a bit but I see Betamache is in there having only run three times over hurdles.
He won a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter last time out and once beat Sam Spinner in a bumper so we’ll just have to see how we get on.
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I always thought Supreme Soviet (4.50) wanted a bit of cut in the ground. I’ve not ridden him on the track but I have sat on him at Ben’s and he is a nice sort.
Bassy rode him at Wincanton on his debut at the start of the season and he might have done too much early on.
I’ll probably be dropping him in a bit and get him to learn something. Today is another step along in his education.
I’ve got four at Huntingdon on Sunday. Trull La La (2.30) ran very well at Ludlow on her debut so I would hope she would come on for that.
The wheels came off Equus Secretus (3.00) slightly at Exeter last time. He was too keen doing too much early on so I’m hoping he’ll run better tomorrow.
I really liked My Turgeon (4.40) when I rode him at Ludlow earlier in the season but his form seems to have tailed off. He should be running a nice race in this grade but it might be that he needs fences. We’ll find out more tomorrow.
I end in the colours of Altior on Alph (5.10). He’s got stacks of ability but he just needs to learn to do things the right way on the track. A hood should definitely help him.