Ascot, Saturday
ORBAAN is my only ride on Saturday and he goes in the Balmoral Handicap (4.40pm).
I won on him at the Shergar Cup, where he was impressive. He was a little bit unlucky at York after that and then at Goodwood last time, but he’s been consistent this season.
It’s a big field, a competitive handicap, but I think that suits him as he’s a horse you’ve got to ride patiently.
He’s got a good turn of foot and you can ride very confidently in a race because of that. The ground is starting to change, but hopefully it stays at least good as I think that will suit him too.
Granted if everything falls right for him and he gets a good run through, then he’s capable of nicking another big one.
🗣 "It's a great occasion, what's there not to like about it?" 😁@neilcallan78 is up for the cup after victory on Orbaan 🟢
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 6, 2022
🎙 @MCYeeehaaa#ITVRacing | #DDFShergarCup | @Ascot | @omeararacing | @chua_jimmy pic.twitter.com/TjIuiCj1tM
Baaeed to sign off an icon
British Champions Day is a fine day of racing, beginning with the Long Distance Cup (1.25pm). With Kyprios not turning up it leaves things open for Trueshan, who’s won the last two renewals.
Eldar Eldarov, the St Leger winner, is clearly a very capable horse. It depends which way the ground goes really, the softer the better for Trueshan and if it stays quicker it might suit Eldar Eldarov, as he probably has a better turn of foot than Trueshan.
The Champion Sprint Stakes (2.00pm) looks a very open race. The main ones to focus on are last year’s winner Creative Force and perhaps Perfect Power.
He’s on a bit of a recovery mission but would be in with a chance on the pick of his form. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a shock winner in this one though.
John Gosden has a stranglehold on the Fillies & Mares (2.40pm) with Emily Upjohn and Mimikyu. I think the track will suit Emily Upjohn as she’s a nice, big galloping type of filly.
I’ve always been a fan of hers since she won at Sandown earlier in the season. I think she’s probably going to be at her best next season, but that’s not to say she can’t win this. She’s the classiest one in the race.
It looks a case of another for John Gosden in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.20pm) and I really can’t see beyond Inspiral.
She was beaten in the Falmouth at Newmarket, but that was probably only because she backed up quickly after Royal Ascot. She’ll be fresher here and should take all the beating.
The Champions Stakes (4.00pm) is a very interesting race. I say that because Baaeed hasn’t come across Adayar yet, who stays very well and is a classy horse. I think this is going to be his biggest test.
I hope Baaeed wins and I think he will, but if there’s plenty of rain and this turns into a bit of a slog that’s where he could be tripped up [taking on Adayar].
I hope he’s not though, because we need champions like him around and it would be great to send him off unbeaten. It would make him a true icon.
Baaeed is a special animal who's charted a very special career so far! pic.twitter.com/lmxNO8aTeT
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 13, 2022
William Buick’s first championship
I think it was only right that William is champion as he was robbed of the championship last year. Everyone wants to avoid the issue and not talk about it, but really it’s a disgrace how that played out – it’s a joke.
William’s a very deserved champion.
He’s put in the hard yards and for someone who probably has the best job in racing, he hasn’t really sat back, he’s grabbed the bull by the horns and gone from one end of the country to the other in search of as many winners as possible, as fast as possible.
That’s what it takes to be champion jockey.
Reflections on my first season back
I couldn’t have asked for a better return to British racing. I’ve had some great support from contacts old and new. I’m very grateful that I could come back and have a strong first season after being away for so long.
I’ve got a few highlights – riding a Royal Ascot winner, winning the Silver Saddle at the Shergar Cup and obviously winning the Group 1 on Fonteyn for Kevin Ryan recently just puts the cherry on top of what’s been a great comeback season.
FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th October 2022
