Neil Callan (@neilcallan78) gives an update on Royal Aclaim ahead of the Nunthorpe Stakes, his thoughts on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and three booked rides for Newmarket on Saturday...
Haydock Treble
It was great to get three winners at Haydock last Saturday with Night Bear, Spangled Mac and Savrola, but I was gutted to miss out on the fourth with Lord Uhtred in the seven-furlong novice.
We got done right on the line and it would have been nice to win the race for Charlie Hills and the horse’s Bahrain owners. But look, I can’t complain, I’m making lots of new contacts and riding plenty of winners. That’s the objective.
This game is all about opportunities. You’re going to have good spells and bad spells, but I don’t tend to change the way I ride.
It’s about keeping a cool head and ride like you do the whole time. Confidence is key and I’m riding with plenty of confidence at the moment because we’re getting plenty of opportunities to ride nicer horses.
Hot Hot Hot
We all know what it’s been like this week. Newmarket was up to 40 degrees, so it was one of the hottest places in the world. It was hotter than Dubai and I think Bahrain was about the only place hotter.
Of course we still ride out, but with a lot of horse racing cancelled on Monday and Tuesday it meant a few of us had a nice little break which you don’t often get in the summer.
They were struggling for water in Newmarket which meant the watered gallop wasn’t in use. That restricts where trainers can take their horses, so they were reliant on the all-weather gallops.
You need to get the horses out a bit earlier when it’s that hot and make sure you keep them well hydrated.
As a family we are very lucky that my in laws have a pool in the garden, so we just chilled there for a few days with the kids.
It was a bit like a mini holiday. You put your swimmers on, go to M&S, get some crusty bread, sandwiches, ice creams. It was a nice couple of days and allowed me to recharge my batteries.
Royal Aclaim Nunthorpe Bound
As I said a couple of weeks ago, it was a shame I wasn’t able to do the light weight on Royal Aclaim in the City Walls at York, but she was hugely impressive and is now the favourite for the Nunthorpe.
Different class 👑
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 9, 2022
Royal Aclaim bolts up to win the John Smith's City Walls Stakes 🥇
Make that three from three for her 🤩#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @Atzenijockey pic.twitter.com/syIhcpilpx
I’m not sure if she’ll have another run before then, but I obviously hope to get the ride back. A three-year-old filly won it last year [Winter Power] and I think she’s got a big, big chance.
The clock is telling how good she is and it doesn’t look an overly strong Nunthorpe to be honest. I won it on Borderlescott back in 2009 and it would be lovely to win it again.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
I think the favourite in this [Westover] is a worthy one after his romp in the Irish Derby.
Having said that, I do like Emily Upjohn and I think the track will play to all her strengths. She’s a strong stayer with speed and she travels, what more could you ask for. I think she can upset the boys in this.
I also think you can expect Mishriff to bounce back from an unlucky Eclipse, if David [Egan] was offered the chance to run that race again he’d probably take it.
This will be a bit tougher and over a bit further but his second in this race last year proves he’s very capable over the mile-and-a-half. Although, I think the younger brigade could outclass his experience.
There’s no doubt this will be a tactical affair and that’s why I’m siding with Emily Upjohn because she’s uncomplicated and will put the speed to the others and make them stay.
Newmarket Rides
I’ve got three rides at HQ on Saturday starting with DIVINE MAGIC in the seven-furlong fillies handicap (1.57pm) who comes here on the back of a well-deserved win last time out.
She had been running well and came third to a nice filly of Richard Hannon’s [Heredia] who followed up by winning the Sandringham Stakes at Ascot.
When she went up to Leicester and won, she had Benoit de la Sayette’s claim to help out, but she could probably have won without that. The key to her in this race is that she’ll need a bit of pace on in this small field.
I ride BERGERAC in the six-furlong handicap (3.42pm) for Kevin Ryan who I had finished second on earlier in the season at this track. He’s a tough, consistent sprinter and almost gives the feel that he could get seven furlongs.
If he can get in a nice rhythm here and reserve as much energy as possible, he could be there at the finish. He’s not a horse that quickens but he has definitely got a strong finish in him and could bounce back here.
The last ride of the day is UZINCSO in the mile handicap (4.17pm). I haven’t ridden this horse before, and it looks like he’s been off the boil slightly since doing a lot of winning as a four-year-old.
He’s had two thirds in his last three runs though, so hopefully he’s coming back to a bit of form.
FIRST PUBLISHED: 21st July 2022
