The Betway ambassador reveals why he has chosen to ride Saint Baco over Sortudo in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle, and discusses his two other rides.<\/p>\n
I have three rides on a decent Friday card in Naas, starting with Future Prospect<\/strong> 6\/4<\/a> <\/strong> in the Maiden Hurdle (12:43). We lack a recent run, although I suppose when you dissect her form we\u2019ve been behind a couple of decent mares in the past. She\u2019s also got some point-to-point form to call upon. Not running since April, you\u2019ll have to be cautious of that, with a lot of ours tending to need a run this season. She wears a hood so she\u2019s keen going, she could be doing plenty at home and might be more forward than we think. She has been working nicely, though. The horses that have the point-to-point form have the jumping side to call upon already, which can be an advantage.<\/p>\n I had a tough choice to make in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle (13:43). I could have ridden either Saint Baco or Sortudo in this Grade 1, and I could end up with egg on my chin after the race, but I went for Saint Baco 11\/5<\/a> <\/strong>. I\u2019ve liked him from early on and I felt he was the one with the most potential. I like everything he\u2019s been doing at home. Unfortunately, I didn\u2019t get to ride either of them in their maiden hurdles so I\u2019ve only been ridding them or watching them in their work at home. Sortudo probably has the form in the book, but Saint Baco\u2019s maiden hurdle win has worked out well, with Lazare de Star winning in Leopardstown over Christmas. My one also has experience of hurdling in France to call upon.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll know the answers after the race and it could become very obvious that he was the one to ride. I thought his maiden form was a little stronger. Danny Mullins rode both of them in their maidens and said he couldn\u2019t really split them, so I know I\u2019m definitely not on a bad horse. Naas is a stiff track, so he\u2019ll need to stay there. He\u2019s a good horse and he\u2019ll handle a bit of kinder ground. In situations like this, I never know for sure but I hope I\u2019ve made the right decision. Back in the day when Ruby Walsh had first pick I knew the pressure was on him to make the right pick, now it\u2019s me!<\/p>\n