Friday 19 December 2014 15:56, UK
Top jockey Wayne Hutchinson looks forward to his rides at Ascot on Saturday, including Medinas in the Long Walk Hurdle.
I have to say first that it is great to be back following a knee injury. It has been a bit stop-start but everything is fine and all good heading up to Christmas.
I have two rides at Ascot on Saturday including Medinas first, who runs in the Grade 1 JLT Long Walk Hurdle against four rivals.
He looks to have a really good shot at this judged on the ratings and his win last time at Newbury. It was a much deserved success as he has always been a star in the yard and the plan was to run in this type of race this season where there is plenty of prize money.
Things dropped right for him last time under Dickie (Johnson) as Cole Harden set a strong pace and More Of That underperformed so he was able to travel well and then pick up the pieces at the end.
With Reve De Sivola and Zarkandar as rivals here, it should mean there is plenty of pace on so we will sit in their slipstream and hope for a similar outcome - everything has been fine with him in the build-up.
I ride The Tourard Man in the opening novices' handicap hurdle and we have been pleased with his runs so far this season, which included a win last time out at Southwell.
This will be the first time he goes into a handicap and I hope he will be very competitive off a mark of 117. He was a point-to-pointer so has plenty of experience and a competitive race like this at Ascot should not bother him at all.
As I say, it was nice to get back at Cheltenham last weekend with a winner on board Ulzana's Raid.
He is a really likeable horse who travelled and jumped well but was just doing enough in the closing stages as Big Easy challenged on the wide outside away from him. But he stuck his neck out well and is very progressive.
He won't be over-raced this year and is a really exciting prospect for next season when he goes over fences.
Miles To Memphis was fifth in the novice hurdle and we are still scratching our heads a little bit after that. He settled and jumped better this time but may want a sounder surface so we will go back and regroup.
Karezak finished second in the juvenile hurdle and has run a mighty race giving 3lb to the winner. His form is now up with the best in the division on this side of the Irish Sea and it was just a little bit frustrating that he lugged across the track to give away some ground to Hargam.
The visor really helped and a bigger field would allow him to be carried further into the race but he looks Triumph Hurdle material at this stage and is a contender.
I was on Olofi for the first time and he gave me a lovely ride behind The New One in the Stan James International Hurdle. He handled the ground well and picked up some nice prize money in third place.
I told the owners and Tom (George) after that two and a half miles may suit him now and he remains the type for a competitive handicap hurdle.
I will pick out a few of my rides from midweek and start with Winner Massagot at Newbury on Wednesday in the juvenile hurdle.
He is a lovely, tall horse with plenty of scope but got pretty tired in the ground as it was hard work up the straight. We think a lot of him and he will have learnt plenty from the experience.
Walkon came back in the graduation chase following the injury he suffered in the Grand National at Aintree but It was a funny race as we seemed to sprint from four furlongs out and the rest of the field just ran away from him.
Dusky Legend is a winner without a penalty in my book after her second at Towcester on Thursday and she has put up a lovely performance. She will jump more slickly as she gains experience and has just bumped into one here - we were intimidated a little bit on the run-in but the form of the race looks solid.
Finally, Presenting Lisa ran away with the mares' bumper in really pleasing fashion. She has not been with us long but has been going well at home and the further she went the better she got.
She picked up really well in the ground - not many did on the day - and is the type to go straight into novice hurdles now.
Remember to check back on Christmas Eve as Wayne will be looking back at the weekend and going through his mounts for Boxing Day.
