A week of agonising has been brought to a close by a team decision that Daryl Jacob should go to Cheltenham, rather than Doncaster, on Saturday and maintain his association with Bristol De Mai. One consequence is fresh doubt as to whether L’Ami Serge will line up in Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase, for which he has been the clear favourite.
It was reported on Tuesday that Jacob would go to Doncaster, leaving Sam Twiston-Davies to deputise on Bristol De Mai as well as Wholestone in the Cleeve Hurdle, both horses being owned by Jacob’s main employers, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. But their racing manager, Anthony Bromley, now says: “Cheltenham is the premier meeting, Simon and Isaac will both be there, Bristol De Mai is their highest-rated horse and we think Daryl should be riding there.”
The same owners will have Sceau Royal, a top-class novice chaser, running in Doncaster’s Lightning Chase on Saturday. In Jacob’s absence, he will be partnered by Wayne Hutchinson, getting the leg-up on this horse for the first time since 2015.
But connections are not so sure whether Doncaster is the right place for L’Ami Serge to be running. Bromley reported plenty of rain on Wednesday in the area, which undermines the case for sending L’Ami Serge there in search of better ground. The horse has alternative entries at Cheltenham, where he would be able to maintain the association with Jacob, which is no small consideration for a horse who takes a bit of knowing. A final decision about where he runs is not expected until morning.
Such a quantity of fretting reflects the increased importance of Munir and Souede in jump racing these days, their string of horses with various trainers having expanded to include a large measure of the most talented animals. Jacob said his position with them is now “the best job in racing and I’m very happy and excited to have it”.
He said: “Whatever happens over the weekend, if I miss out on a winner at the other meeting, I’m going to be riding it the next time at the Cheltenham Festival. So I’m very lucky and all the credit has got to go to Simon and Isaac and Anthony. They’ve got a lot of trust and confidence in me and it’s been fantastic for me, a real confidence booster knowing that someone wanted me after Paul Nicholls and I went our separate ways. They’ve instilled a lot of confidence in me and confidence is a massive part of riding horses.”
Jacob is especially keen to get back on board Bristol De Mai, the hefty grey who broke a record for Grade One jump racing when winning the Betfair Chase by 57 lengths in November. He runs in the Cotswold Chase as his final prep before the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
“I sat on him last week, he seemed in really good form,” the jockey said. “We think he’s got over his ulcers problems that he had in the King George and obviously all the rain that’s coming for the rest of the week is going to be a help to him around Cheltenham. We’re hoping that he’s going to be back to full strength.”
Of the horse’s King George flop, Jacob says: “It was disappointing. He was never really at the races. He didn’t travel or jump with me. I knew after jumping four fences that he wasn’t the same Bristol that I’ve ridden in the past. I’d like to think I know the horse inside out and it was clear [that he wasn’t in peak form]. That’s why I didn’t give him a hard race.”
But Jacob will miss being on Sceau Royal, so impressive in landing a Grade One last time, despite odds of 11-1. “I was delighted with his performance at Sandown. I schooled him on Monday morning and he seems on really good terms with himself.”
Kelso 12.45 Un Guet Apens 1.15 Seldom Inn (nb) 1.45 Whitsundays 2.20 Very First Time 2.55 Cool Mix 3.30 Hitman Fred 4.05 Shantaluze
Warwick 12.55 Night Of Glory 1.25 Sensulano 2.00 Gardiners Hill 2.35 Itsnonofurbusiness (nap) 3.10 Grandturgeon 3.45 Not Normal
Southwell 1.05 Master Of Song 1.35 Cool Spirit 2.10 Pearl Acclaim 2.45 Epitaph 3.20 Helen Sherbet 3.55 Zaeem
Chelmsford 5.55 Our Kim 6.30 Glories 7.00 Ascot Day 7.30 Mambo Dancer 8.00 Celtic Artisan 8.30 No More Thrills 9.00 Espresso Freddo
