Retirement is something I’ve never looked forward to and I’ll have mixed emotions at Cheltenham this week. There’s not going to be any more chances to go back there and ride winners, so I’m going to have to try to make the most of it. The one certainty is that however I do this year is going to be better than next.
Cheltenham is where everyone wants to win. I’ve been very lucky, with my 30 Festival successes including three Champion Hurdles, two Gold Cups and a Champion Chase. If you’d offered me that at the start of my career, 23 years ago, I’d have bitten both your hands off.
I want to try and enjoy this week the best I can but, like anything, it’s a lot easier when you are winning. Hopefully I’ll be adding to my tally of victories at some point but this is Cheltenham and none of us have any divine right to win there.
You need a horse who has got everything — speed, stamina and a will to win that makes it better than all the rest. That full package is difficult to find.
There will be a crowd of about 60,000 today but it’s just me, the other lads and the horses once we leave the paddock. You don’t really see, feel or hear the atmosphere unless you are lucky enough to win.
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The course is challenging because of its undulations and the fact that there are a lot of runners in the majority of races. It’s a tight, quick track — a lot quicker than people think — and there is not much time or room for error. Everything happens fast and nobody gives an inch. It is fortunate us jockeys are not fitted with mics because there can be a lot of shouting, most of it unpleasant.
The Stan James Champion Hurdle is today’s feature and I’m very hopeful that Jezki can retain his crown. I make it a four-horse race between him, Faugheen, The New One and Hurricane Fly.
Cheltenham brings out the best in Jezki and he improves at this time of the year. He is definitely a better horse when the ground dries out and he gets a bit of sun on his back.
There is no form like Champion Hurdle form and that is borne out when you look through the winners over the past 20 years or so. Horses who win it one year are invariably bang there again 12 months later.
Hurricane Fly is a fabulous horse and has come out on top in his races with Jezki this season but, under today’s conditions, I’ll be disappointed if we do not get the better of him.
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Many people felt The New One was unlucky last year and he shaped like a potential Champion Hurdle winner when winning at Cheltenham in December. However, he looked a little lethargic at Haydock last time.
Faugheen is the one that worries me most. He doesn’t seem to have any chinks and clearly has a big engine. Ruby Walsh’s decision to ride him, instead of Hurricane Fly, suggests he’s the real deal and I know they are very sweet on him.
Ruby’s on four short-priced favourites this afternoon and, overall, has probably the most fantastic book of rides that any jockey has ever had going into the meeting. We’d all love to be in his shoes, that’s for sure.
The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets things under way. I’ve read that Willie Mullins regards Douvan as the most exciting horse he has ever brought to Cheltenham and if he’s that good we may as well not even turn up, but it’s never that simple.
I ride Jollyallan and like him a lot. I think he has a very good chance, even though he’s not the most natural of jumpers. There’s not much between him and L’Ami Serge on official ratings, and he got beaten by a seasoned campaigner in Garde La Victoire at Sandown last time, having looked the winner going to the last. The heavy ground played a part in that defeat and I think he will improve for better going.
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Qewy would also be high on my list if I was trying to pick out each-way value. I won on him at Newbury recently and was impressed. He was decent on the Flat, is experienced and likes jumping.
Three Kingdoms, a stablemate of Qewy, is my ride in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase and has each-way claims. He was tough when winning at Doncaster last time and, before that, had not been beaten far by Vibrato Valtat. I doubt there will again be much between them.
Un De Sceaux is the one who stands out. I’d like to be picking holes in him but he was mightily impressive at Leopardstown and seems to have it all. He was far more settled, relaxed and professional last time, plus quick and clever on his feet, and will be difficult to beat.
I partner Pendra in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase. The Coral Cup was a complete culture shock to him two years ago but he would have a squeak if he runs as well as he did at the meeting last year, when third. He was a bit disappointing on his return, though, and has had problems since, plus he still lacks a bit of experience.
I’m without a ride in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle. Annie Power is hot favourite and, in all honesty, you are just betting on her getting round. She’s got at least a stone and a half in hand of everything else in the line-up and I reckon she’s the biggest certainty of the week.
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The National Hunt Chase is for amateur riders but it was my suggestion for Cause Of Causes to run. He was unenthusiastic when I rode him in a two-and-a-half mile chase this season and has lost a bit of spark. I said to run him in this because he might travel a bit sweeter over four miles. If he goes through the race for a good part of it, but does not stay, at least he’ll have shown us something.
My final ride of the day is Bold Henry in the CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices’ Handicap Chase.
He’s proven at Cheltenham and would have won at Wetherby last time had I not fallen off him. The longer trip is a question mark but, if he stays, he is capable of running well in an open race.
Finally, I’m flattered that Cheltenham has renamed the final race of the meeting in my honour and a bit embarrassed, mostly because I thought you had to be dead to have a race named after you.
I’ll be riding either Ned Buntline or Eastlake and it’s tough choosing between them. The choice will be completely left to me and I just hope I get it right.