David Probert Weekend Blog | Newmarket
04 May 2024
Coral Racing Ambassador, David Probert, provides an exclusive preview of his rides at Newmarket on Guineas Weekend, including the Coral Racing Club's very own Rockstar Icon in the 17:15 on Saturday.
Saturday
13:45 Newmarket – Sterling Knight
The season has gone really well so far, I’m riding for a good group of trainers, and hopefully the winners can keep coming. This is a big weekend as the jockeys’ championship kicks-off, so let’s hope I don’t now go on the cold list!
I start the day on Sterling Knight, a grand horse I’ve won a couple of times on in the past. He was ultra consistent last year, on turf and through the winter on the all-weather, and for good reason he’s a real favourite in the Ed Dunlop yard. He ran at Doncaster last weekend, finishing a really good third, and that should bring him on again, so in a competitive race, I can see him having a decent each-way chance.
14:20 Newmarket – Majestic
I rode this horse to finish fifth at Newmarket last month, his first start since finishing fourth in last season’s Cambridgeshire, a race he’d won the year before. He loves this track, and he won’t mind if there’s any more rain and the ground softens. I’ve ridden a few winners for Jack [Channon] this year, and this is a horse I’m really looking forward to riding.
17:15 Newmarket – Rockstar Icon
A big runner for the Coral Racing Club, I was lucky enough to be on board when he won at Lingfield on New Year’s Eve. He’s working well by all accounts, and while this is a big field and a big step up in grade, he’s lightly raced, and the fact he’s starting his three-year-old season off here says how well he’s going at home.
I was really pleased with his attitude at Lingfield, we were entitled to win but he still had to overcome a wide draw, and he won well, with the first two pulling well clear of the field. A couple of winners have come out of the race too, so if he’s progressed from that, there’s no reason he can’t be competitive here.
Sunday
13:50 Newmarket – Gray’s Inn
I start Sunday on another for Jack Channon. I rode her at this track on her last run of last season, before that she’d shown enough to confirm she’s a filly with some ability. She won’t mind soft ground or better, this is her first run of the season so I’d expect her to take a big step forward whatever she does here.
14:25 Newmarket – Caernarfon
I haven’t ridden Caernarfon before, but she was fourth in the 1000 Guineas and third in the Oaks last year so she’s a filly with some class. I went to the yard to ride her last week, and was really pleased with the feel she gave me in her homework. The stable are in good form, and if she can replicate her form of last season, she would have a great chance. I’m really looking forward to this.
16:15 Newmarket – Ballet Show
It’s great to have picked up a ride for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. Charlie runs three here, so while William [Buick] is probably on the first pick, my filly is a beautifully bred daughter of Dubawi and I’m sure she’ll give me a lovely feel on her debut run.
David Probert, Coral Racing Ambassador
Saturday
13:45 Newmarket – Sterling Knight
The season has gone really well so far, I’m riding for a good group of trainers, and hopefully the winners can keep coming. This is a big weekend as the jockeys’ championship kicks-off, so let’s hope I don’t now go on the cold list!
I start the day on Sterling Knight, a grand horse I’ve won a couple of times on in the past. He was ultra consistent last year, on turf and through the winter on the all-weather, and for good reason he’s a real favourite in the Ed Dunlop yard. He ran at Doncaster last weekend, finishing a really good third, and that should bring him on again, so in a competitive race, I can see him having a decent each-way chance.
14:20 Newmarket – Majestic
I rode this horse to finish fifth at Newmarket last month, his first start since finishing fourth in last season’s Cambridgeshire, a race he’d won the year before. He loves this track, and he won’t mind if there’s any more rain and the ground softens. I’ve ridden a few winners for Jack [Channon] this year, and this is a horse I’m really looking forward to riding.
17:15 Newmarket – Rockstar Icon
A big runner for the Coral Racing Club, I was lucky enough to be on board when he won at Lingfield on New Year’s Eve. He’s working well by all accounts, and while this is a big field and a big step up in grade, he’s lightly raced, and the fact he’s starting his three-year-old season off here says how well he’s going at home.
I was really pleased with his attitude at Lingfield, we were entitled to win but he still had to overcome a wide draw, and he won well, with the first two pulling well clear of the field. A couple of winners have come out of the race too, so if he’s progressed from that, there’s no reason he can’t be competitive here.
Sunday
13:50 Newmarket – Gray’s Inn
I start Sunday on another for Jack Channon. I rode her at this track on her last run of last season, before that she’d shown enough to confirm she’s a filly with some ability. She won’t mind soft ground or better, this is her first run of the season so I’d expect her to take a big step forward whatever she does here.
14:25 Newmarket – Caernarfon
I haven’t ridden Caernarfon before, but she was fourth in the 1000 Guineas and third in the Oaks last year so she’s a filly with some class. I went to the yard to ride her last week, and was really pleased with the feel she gave me in her homework. The stable are in good form, and if she can replicate her form of last season, she would have a great chance. I’m really looking forward to this.
16:15 Newmarket – Ballet Show
It’s great to have picked up a ride for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. Charlie runs three here, so while William [Buick] is probably on the first pick, my filly is a beautifully bred daughter of Dubawi and I’m sure she’ll give me a lovely feel on her debut run.
David Probert, Coral Racing Ambassador
Share
