High hopes for Hougomont at Haydock

Racing TV ambassador has had four winners already this week and bids to keep up his good run at Haydock and Beverley this weekend. Find out what he makes of his chances.

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Striving to keep busy…

I’ve taken plenty of rides over the past week, this is the start of the busy period, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I have a tried and tested method which continues to serve me well. Summer is literally a case of getting up, losing some weight, and then going racing. Rinse and repeat.

I’m blessed where I live, in that I’m never too far away from a racecourse, and on the occasions when I do have riding commitments in Scotland, it is easy to offset the demands of travelling with fuelling the body adequately in terms of nutrition. Packed lunches are an option, and there is a range of healthy food – salads, sandwiches, soups etc – offered at most racecourses. The jockeys are all well catered for on that score.

Jackhammer strikes at 33/1 under Paul earlier this week

The past week has been great. I managed to sneak another big-priced winner with Jackhammer at Hamilton. Dianne Sayer has always been kind to me over the years, and she deserves plenty of credit for keeping Jackhammer sweet. He’s a nine-year-old who alternates hurdling with Flat racing. Dianne loves Carlisle, so I’d imagine that his next target will be the consolation race for the Carlisle Bell (a race he won last year) later this month.

Saturday’s Haydock Rides…

I’m at Haydock on Saturday for three rides. Hougoumont (4.10pm), who has been crying out for seven furlongs, provides what I hope is my best chance of a winner. I rode him on his first two starts last year and I’m looking forward to being back aboard.

He was gelded over the winter, and has run some decent races so far this year, with his most recent fourth-placed finish (Haydock), franked by both the winner Radio Goo Goo, and the second Lulworth Cove.

Fools Rush In (1.50pm) is making just his fourth start for Jim Goldie. He has eased 2lb since finishing in the midfield at York (7f) last month. He returns to a course which suits – his form figures here are ‘1512’ – but this race is over six furlongs, and the market has him down as an outsider.

Pol Roger (4.45pm) is easing in the weights. He’s dropped 7lb already this year and was successful at Haydock as a juvenile. He raced over 1m2f at Newmarket last time but drops back in distance here.

Bonus-chasing at Beverley with Geremia…

Beverley plays host to week three of The Sky Bet Sunday Series. Geremia (4.45pm) was deservedly off the mark on turf at Hamilton and strives to take the next step towards the £100,000 bonus offered for being the first horse to win three races in the Sky Bet Sunday Series. He is rated 3lb higher than at Hamilton, but this trip (2m) isn’t a problem. We’ve learned a lot more about him this year.

Archie Watson’s Spiritual Pursuit (4.15pm) makes her debut in the fillies’ maiden. She is the fourth foal from an unraced dam who was a sister to the seven-furlong Group 2 juvenile winner Saamidd and a sister to two other winners. I’ve had a good bit luck for her owners Apple Tree Stud in the past, so it’ll be nice to be back wearing their silks on Sunday.

A La Francaise (6.45pm) is coming to the boil. She ran well at Hamilton (second) last time. Obviously, this looks a red-hot race, as you would expect for the prize money, but I’d be expecting her to run a good race. The stiff Beverley finish should play to her strengths.