My Saturday rides at Thirsk
2.10 – Blue Force One (Karl Burke)
I wouldn’t know too much about him, as I’ve not sat on him at home, but he’s by Blue Point, so he’s bred to be sharp. He’ll be making his racecourse debut in this race, and he might just need the experience. Having said that Karl’s juvenile has been in excellent form all year, so he will be fit and ready to go.
2.45 – King’s Coronation (Karl Burke)
He ran well on his stable debut for Karl when he finished second at Newmarket last month. That was his first run after wind surgery, so you would like to think he’d come on for that run. He’s got some of the best form on offer in this race, and I can see him going close.
3.20 – Drafted (Danny Brooke)
I rode him at Ripon last time out, and he probably didn’t handle the track that day, so you can put a line through that run. He’s now dropped the weights and is 2lb below his last winning mark. If he can take a step back in the right direction, then hopefully he can be competitive on this more straightforward track.
3.55 – Scottish Summit (Geoffrey Harker)
He’s a bit of a legend now that he’s an 11-year-old, and I’ve had the fortune of riding him for quite a few years. His latest effort at Ripon wasn’t bad, and you’d think he would step forward from it considering it was the first run of the season. Coming back to Thirsk will also be a positive for him, as I won him last year. Geoffrey has always been a good supporter of mine, so it would be great to ride him another winner here.
4.30 – Mudamer (Geoffrey Harker)
I know this horse well, and I won on him at Beverley last season. He’s had two runs so far this season and has been a little bit disappointing on both of them. The cheek pieces were left off the last day, and they’re back on him again here, so hopefully that will help him concentrate. He seems like quick ground, so the conditions shouldn’t be a problem for him. I’m hopeful of a good run.
5.05 – Billy No Mates (Michael Dods)
I’ve not ridden him before, but he’s been around a while. It seems like his best form has come on soft ground, so he might not be suited by the faster conditions at Thirsk. He wasn’t beaten that far at York last time out, and he probably ran better than bare form probably suggests. This will be a drop-in class for him, so you’d like to think he would find life a bit easier in this grade.
I hope you all have a great weekend and I’ll check in with you again soon.