Barry Geraghty Blog: Ahoy Senor, Down Royal & Saturday Tips

14/02/2024
5 min. read
Barry Geraghty Blog
Barry Geraghty Tipster
By Barry Geraghty

Don’t write off Ahoy Senor

The Charlie Hall was an interesting race to watch. It was a good performance from Bravemansgame, but I wasn’t blown away. It’s what we expected and I’m sure he will improve for the run.

He was keen, he sweated up beforehand and I’m sure there’s more to come, but there would need to be if he was to win a King George.

Ahoy Senor was also keen early and just a bit too exuberant over the first four fences. He was then untidy at the fifth and sixth. He just never got into a rhythm.

He can be keen and, physically, he’s a big, strong horse. He can jump well and Derek [Fox] has built up a good relationship with him, but he’s a challenge to ride. He does well to keep a lid on him. 

I read that Peter Scudamore said the horse has got more relaxed at home. When a horse gets more relaxed in his work his fitness levels can suffer, so I’d expect a massive improvement in not only his fitness but also just having this run under his belt.

He should be more relaxed next time and I wouldn’t be losing faith in him.

Look at last season. He was beaten when falling at Carlisle but then he couldn’t have been more impressive at Newbury. I’d expect a big show from him next time out which could be back at Newbury in the Coral Gold Cup.

I’d rather he went for that race than the King George. He was brilliant at Newbury on his second start last year.

Don’t get me wrong, Bravemansgame was good on the day, but bigger challenges lie ahead and he’ll have to improve.  

Down Royal, Saturday

As is the case normally, there’s a small field for the Champion Chase (2:32) at Down Royal. Galvin has the benefit of a run and he definitely has the strongest form.

He only just got touched off by Frodon in this race last year and he then beat A Plus Tard at Leopardstown over Christmas, with Kemboy not far behind in third.

The slight negative for Galvin is the soft ground and potentially a steady pace as he is best on decent ground with a strong gallop to aim at.

Conflated has form on soft ground and he was very impressive in the Irish Gold Cup last February. Kemboy is likely to make the running and if it is a controlled pace, it would play to Conflated’s strength.

The Grade 2 Chase (3:07) is competitive despite there only being four runners. Fury Road and Vanillier were both beaten on their first start last year, so they have questions to answer.

I like Fighter Allen and I can him progressing this season. This looks a good opportunity for him getting so much weight off the top two. You can’t rule out Delvino either, but I’m siding with Fighter Allen.

Wincanton, Saturday

The big betting race is the Badger Beers (1:50), a race Paul Nicholls has won three times in the last five years. Frodon has been re-routed here from Down Royal and he’s now down to 158 from 169.

This is also his first run after a wind op. He won the big race at Down Royal 12 months ago and the King George the year before that. He’s suited to good ground on a flat track and I think this could be the ideal opportunity for him.

Sceau Royal is a course specialist and is going for a hat-trick in the Elite Hurdle (3:00). He’s 10 now, so he’s getting on, but he’s had a run and he’s still the one they all have to beat. Like the Grade 2 in Down Royal, there are a few angles here.

Knappers Hill won well at Chepstow last time, but that was in a handicap and he’ll have to step up here. Knight Salute had really good form in his juvenile season and he ran well at Cheltenham last month off an average pace.

I’m not sure where the pace is in this and a steady pace would play into Sceau Royal’s hands.

Milkwood is also a decent horse on his day and there’s only a pound between the other three on ratings. I’d say Knight Salute is open to plenty of improvement and he could be the one at a decent price.

Aintree, Saturday

I like Lifetime Ambition for Jessie [Harrington] in the Grand Sefton (2:11).

He won in Down Royal first time up last year where his jumping was electric and he should it love it round there. He beat Beacon Edge and Vanillier that day and I would love to have a spin on him over the National fences.

Another small field in the Class 2 Hurdle (2:45). Brewin’upastorm bolted up in this last year and it’s the ideal race for him.

Langer Dan is a good horse and won really well at the Grand National meeting, but he has to give him 4lbs and he’s 10lbs lower in the ratings which makes this a tough ask.

Doncaster, Saturday

I don’t normally put up horses on the Flat, but there are a few jumping types in the November Handicap (3:13) and I think Emmet Mullins’ Teed Up could have been teed up for this one.

He won well over hurdles in Galway in the summer and then ran well for a long way in the October Handicap at Leopardstown last time.

 

 

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Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty Tipster

With 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, Barry Geraghty is the second most successful jockey in the meeting’s illustrious history.

Career highlights include five Queen Mother Champion Chase victories, two Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs and victory aboard Monty’s Pass in the 2003 Grand National.

Barry has partnered with 888sport for the 2021/22 jumps season, providing his expert insight and horse racing analysis on the biggest races of the week.