Graham Bradley Cheltenham Blog Part 5
We give our special guest and Gold Cup winning jockey Graham Bradley a ‘fantasy’ book of rides at the Festival. Today we take you through Tuesday and Wednesday and ask Brad how he would ride each one of his mounts. Blue Square PR Manager Alan Alger poses the questions:Alan – Graham a bit of a twist as we get ever closer to the Festival. We’ve decided to give you a ‘fantasy’ book of rides for the meeting in some of the big races. First up on Tuesday in the Supreme you’ll be taking the ride on red-hot favourite Dunguib. Young jockey Brian O’Connell has the pressure of bringing home one of the Festival bankers. What would you do in his riding boots?
Graham – As I keep saying, the important thing about riding in a race is that the trainer’s job is finished once he gives you the leg up and it’s then down to the jockey. This lad is young and inexperienced. He did give it a peach of a ride in the bumper but the obstacles make this completely different. He needs to be handy, especially at the top of the hill. Tommy Stack said to me the other day – “wherever you want to be turning for home you want to be there at the top of the hill”. He’ll need luck in running – but at least he’s got gears to get him out of trouble. Will he drop it out on the inner or wide on the outer to come round the field? I would jump off on the wide outside as that’s the straightest line to the turn before the winning post. Then I’d carve everyone up and settle in third or fourth. This horse needs a slightly different ride. Dropped in and covered up. I’d make my ground up in the back-straight where its flat. Ideally I’d be sixth at the top of the hill then freewheel down. I’d make our challenge going to the last. So much will be going through this young lads mind! The trainer has kept the faith though and that’s good enough for me.
Alan - Next up in the Arkle you’ve drawn out likely second-favourite Somersby from the Henrietta Knight stable – how would you ride this race?
Graham – I’ve ridden a few winners for Henrietta in the past, she is a brilliant trainer who leaves nothing to chance. I would be his seventh jockey in ten races if I took the ride! I’d have been down to school two or three times covering all the angels. Horses that jump as well as he does gain ground at fences so that’s always a nice feeling. I’d be looking forward to this horse – he is a superstar. AP (Tony McCoy) thinks Captain Cee Bee is his best ride of the meeting, but he loved Somersby when he rode him at Sandown. I wouldn’t give any ground away at the start, on the collar over the first three fences to the stands. It would be no disaster if I was in front turning away from the stands but I’d definitely prefer to be in second or third. It’s only his third run over fences. Well Cheif won this on his second Chase race though. I’d like to be in the first three all the way – although it wouldn’t break my heart if I had to make all. I’d judge the pace from the front. When in the Supreme he didn’t have the boot early doors but stayed on from a long way back. The horse could actually want further so needs to be in the van. Jumping the second last I would want to make use of jumping and get him in front – get the speed hoses Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe working. It’s a hot race but he’s a big lovely horse and has got every chance. The main worry would be Riverside Theatre.
Alan - In our ‘fantasy’ Champion Hurdle you are on Alan King’s Medermit, how would you get the better of last year’s Supreme conqueror Go Native?
Graham – Go Native is going to be a tricky ride – he can’t get there too soon and he looks as though he could stop in front. Francome’s ride on Sea Pigeon comes to mind – no better man to emulate that than Paul Carberry. Our horse was unlucky in the Supreme last year. It was no fluke when he beat Punjabi at Haydock. We wil not mind good ground here. It’s likely we’d be staying on at the finish. Go Native has more speed and ability but Medermit has matured. One question is – will Go Native prick his ears and give Paul trouble on the run in? Id ride Medermit the same as Collier Bay – handy on outer over the first two, filter over into third before bend passing stands – sit there and cruise with them, freewheel down hill and kick off bend in front. You’d then hope that Go Native comes there cantering and doesn’t go through with it up the hill – the longer I give Go Native the lead the better it will be. It’s a very open race and I could make a case for ten of them, but I’d be happy with this ride.
Alan - On to the second day of the Festival and in the RSA Chase we’ve partnered you with current favourite Long Run – what advice would you give his actual rider Sam Waley-Cohen?
Graham – This horse is a superstar and could be anything for the future. A small issue with his jumping is that he can meet them short and boot them out. He seems to have no respect for the fences. Big horses can get away with it – but I’d question if you can get away with that at Cheltenham. They ran him over two miles at Warwick to see if he was an Arkle contender but have opted for this. I would ride him exactly same as Kildimo – dropped out, conserve energy, don’t even think about passing a horse for a circuit. Horses in their training regime every day work relaxed in single file. I’d do the same here, horse are creatures of habit. When you put them upsides they know instinctively that racing has begun. I’d make an exception to my rule about being in front the first two days and have balls of steel from the back. Again I’d make up ground on the back straight. The second and third last fences would be a worry as I’ve already said – they’ve levelled the ground a bit on both of them but they are still tricky. Punchestowns is high class and will take some beating if gets there in good order. Diamond Harry has issues with his jumping and I wouldn’t be as worried about him. My horse is pure class though so the only worry is with the trip. In which case I’d settle and produce him late. Those tactics will be tough for an amateur – but his father owning him takes the pressure off. He seems capable.
Alan - You’ve said the Champion Chase looks a formality for Master Minded, we’re giving you the leg-up on veteran Well Chief, how do you ensure another placed performance from him?
Graham – He’s not the biggest horse in the world, his last three runs were on desperate ground, which is not great for a small one. Last time out he may just have been sick of taking on better horses on terrible ground. He’s not as sharp as he used to be but the break will have done him good and he can still place. He wants settling on the rail – nearer back than front. I wouldn’t want to get too far behind as I’m not as quick as I used to be. I’d then move up to midfield at the halfway stage of race. I’d ride him with the intention to nick third and see how he goes. The favourite is in a different league but it’s wide open for the places.
Join us tomorrow when Graham talks us through Thursday and Friday of his ‘fantasy’ book of Festival rides. Is there another Gold Cup winner in there?
Author: Alan Alger
