It caught my eye that David O'Meara had sent Rhoscolyn down to Goodwood today but Jason Watson took an 'outside' ride on the fancied Alpha Crucis in the race while Edward Greatrex rode the northern challenger.
Maybe plans had been fluid and Watson had already committed to Alpha Crucis, but it seems he hasn't ridden for O'Meara since the previous Saturday when he didn't get the breaks on Akkadian Thunder in a valuable Ascot handicap.
He hadn't ridden for O'Meara for five days prior to that so maybe it's just down to lack of suitable opportunities, but seemingly nothing booked for O'Meara either in the coming days, and on Tuesday at Leicester where O'Meara runs Perle D'or, which was ridden last time by Watson, the ride goes to David Nolan, with Watson riding one for Andrew Balding.
I wouldn't read too much into the Alpha Crucis booking, he rode it the previous year and has been connected to that stable from years back. But the other bookings or lack of might indicate something, trainers are fickle animals.
I wouldn't read too much into the Alpha Crucis booking, he rode it the previous year and has been connected to that stable from years back.But the other bookings or lack of might indicate something, trainers are fickle animals.
Just checking there, both David Nolan and Mark Winn have ridden more for O'Meara this year than Watson has, so maybe my perception of him as a second jockey to O'Meara after Danny Tudhope is misplaced.
Just checking there, both David Nolan and Mark Winn have ridden more for O'Meara this year than Watson has, so maybe my perception of him as a second jockey to O'Meara after Danny Tudhope is misplaced.
There won't be any Cold Stares between the pair because he's back riding for Mr O'Meara tomorrow at Redcar, and rides Padishakh in the dartboard colours for him in the big handicap on Champions' Day.
There won't be any Cold Stares between the pair because he's back riding for Mr O'Meara tomorrow at Redcar, and rides Padishakh in the dartboard colours for him in the big handicap on Champions' Day.