John Ferguson

Nope - said he'd use him in the hcaps only

"Jack has done absolutely nothing wrong on these horses but he has yet to ride at the Festival so it was the right thing to do to employ top jockeys who have ridden winners at the meeting for the top conditions races," Ferguson told www.attheraces.com.

"Jack has known of this situation for a long time and is a team player and completely understands.

"As it is he will be on board the runners we have in handicaps."

I really, really want to back Cotton Mill for a place and have wrestling with this for a while. I was there at Hereford for his first hurdle win and was impressed. 25/1 looks a fair price but can't shake this thought that despite its 3 wins from 3 over hurdles, it hasn't beaten much, even in the Grade 2 at Warwick. Anyone have any thoughts?

No thoughts other than at 25/1, having done nothing wrong, worth a fiver innit?

I have a small bet on Cotton Mill because 25/1 does look a big price for an unbeaten Grade 2 winner.  However,  the horse he beat last time has since been beaten fairly comfortably which doesn't help the form a lot.

My thoughts exactly andy. Just got to hope it's one of those horses who just does enough perhaps? Needs mistakes from others to get anywhere better than 3rd I'm thinking.

I think he's pretty gd to J Quinlan tbh but just wants to be using some experienced jockeys on his big hopes in the better races.

needs to improve on his last win but the likely better ground would be in his favour and it could be the Warwick conditions were against him a little  - wouldnt put anyone off 25/1 ew - if Boston Bob and Batonnier go elsewhere you wont have that many competing for the places.

Oh go on then. Little nibble e/w never did anyone any harm!

While I understand John Ferguson's comments, it is still disappointing to see his young stable jockey, 'jocked off''.

BJG also ride Asaid in the Triumph. Ran well enough on wrong ground at Lepordstown. 70 on here is huge.

He confirmed it at preview night in Dublin on Thursday.

Also rides creekside in Fred W

If you watch Quinlan in a finish you will know he isn't ready yet. Looks awkward to me and the experience he will get in the handicaps will do him well.

Thats done no harm to the Cotton Mill form

nice boost to Cotton Mill's form just now at Sandown

Just got in the door and came on to say the same thing! Quite glad I got on at 25/1 now!

"Jack has done absolutely nothing wrong on these horses but he has yet to ride at the Festival so it was the right thing to do to employ top jockeys"

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They could have started to address the situation by putting the guy up in this race,like going into a nightclub you've never been to and being told by the door staff "regulars only tonight lads".

I think it's perfectly reasonable to book the best jockey you can, and whilst JQ is a promising claimer, he's not BG.

I'm pretty sure JQ appreciates the reasoning behind the decision, especially as he'll be riding the stable's Festival 'good-thing' on Friday.

Particularly pleased to see JH keep the faith with Asaid, a horse I've backed and who I believe has bags of ability.

What's the good thing in your opinion?  I can see him having a good festival

Jeez ! This elementary stuff. The most prestigious jumps meeting of the year, so to give the horse its best chance of wiining you employ the best jockey. Just in case there are still any doubts about this point Tom Segal recently stated that the most important aspect of winner finding is the jockey on board.There can be no room for sentiment.

If Sir Tom says so it must be right

But I do get your point about best jockey to give the horse best chance

andy85: in answer to your earlier question: Cape Dutch in the Martin Pipe.

Creekside got to be a better shot that the market at 33/1, especially if Barry is riding. I think this one is the highest rated flat horse in the field, and that has been a good trend to follow in previous years.

he is highest rated on flat by far and I normally love that stat here but this one looks like he needs an easy track to get home over this distance.

I hope they do run Cape Dutch in Pipe race also - Quinlan can claim an extra 3lb as stable jockey I believe and really like his chances there

I also like Cape Dutch in the Martin Pipe. However, he's also in the Coral Cup and surely there's a worry that they will run him in that if he gets in? Not guaranteed to get in either race at the moment. Have got an e/w trixie on New Year's Eve, Cotton Mill and Cape Dutch (in Martin Pipe)

Its worth watching Asaids run in Ireland again. He get trapped wide and jumped like a pig the whole way yet made up a remarkable amount of ground in the straight. With more experienced handling (Geraghty) and the hill to come up he could be very very interesting at large odds

Only problem is I wouldn't fancy him to reverse form with the winner that day and I feel there are better horses than Hisaabaat in the Triumph too so I would struggle to see him placed.  At 40/1 though there would be worse bets, but I have to draw the line somewhere personally.

Yort: I agree re Asaid's run in Ireland. Didn't look interested throughout the race, jumping sloppily but was running on strongly at the end. I'd had a decent e/w bet on him at 14/1 that day, and as is often the case he finished 4th!

He's obviously got a few issues between his ears, hence the head gear. However, I rated his Huntingdon debut pretty highly, and if BJG can get him galvanised (he rode him in Ireland btw), then he's got a good chance in a poor Triumph.

I actually thought they would go FW with Asaid after running him again at Towcester so he would qualify - maybe they were put off by his mark.

Maybe he has a chance in the Triumph as its open but I wouldn't say its a poor renewal - on paper I would suggest it looks every bit as good as last years's at the same stage

Best laid plans of mice and men...

Cape Dutch has got into the Koral Kup! Oh dear, only some tactical lameness will see him running on Friday now! Never mind, I've backed him for tomorrow.

Shame with Cotton Mill there.  Doubt he would have beat the winner, but thought I was collecting ew with Cotton Mill.

Think Ferguson will get his winner at some point this week

goin to take me a while to get over that, would have given it a race at least.

Still gutted.

2 fine efforts and the money came for both too...part of me says it would have been too easy had he shipped up and won with a well-backed one in his first season!

Them Flat breds dont wanna jump hurdles
Reminded me of when that oliver brady horse ducked the issue a few years ago in the Triumph

Asaid looks far too big at 50/1 now.  Geraghty is fairly positive in his blog;

"I kick off with a realistic chance of a forward showing in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30) on ASAID for John Ferguson.

I don’t think his price reflects his chance because he’s only 12lb behind the top-rated horse Baby Mix and ran much better than his final placing indicated when I rode him to finish just over six lengths fourth to Hisaabaat in the Grade 1 hurdle at Leopardstown in early February.

He was very nervous over the first three hurdles, lost ground and was well behind after three out. I wound him up turning for home and he finished really strongly over a track that wouldn’t play to his strengths.

John sent him to Towcester after that and he was suited by that test of stamina and won well – what’s more he jumped much better.

This track will play to his strengths and I’d be very hopeful that he’d be staying on from two out and passing horses in a race that is probably more wide open that usual.

I don’t think there is a stand-out juvenile at the moment and you could have five picks and still get it wrong."