Apologies if I’m not full of exciting things to say this week – I simply don’t have a life at the moment!

It really is non-stop and there will be a sigh of relief when the evening racing finishes this weekend.

Big-race win beats a century

I’m ticking along with 70 winners for the year, and given the freak weather this summer which has caused a number of abandonments and lack of opportunities for horses, it’s not a bad tally. It would be nice to get to a century for the year, but I’m not going to go hell for leather to achieve it.

Quality is just as important as quantity, if not more so, so I’d definitely swap getting to 100 winners for riding another top-level winner this year to follow on from I’m A Dreamer’s win in the US a couple of weeks back.

That’s not going to happen this weekend with the quality of racing dropping a notch or two compared to last week.

Talking of which I was hopeful of a Group winner last week, and nearly secured one with Primevere in the Winter Hill Stakes – she ran a great race to come second. I was hopeful of a good showing from Badr Al Badoor in the Lowther, but she got very tired and needed the race.

Friday and Saturday’s rides

As for this weekend, keep an eye on Exceededexpectations in the final race at Wolverhampton on Friday. I won on him at the course on his penultimate start and then he disappointed at Yarmouth. I think he saw too much daylight last time, so more cover and a return to Wolverhampton could see him back to winning ways.

On to Saturday and I ride Burke’s Rock for Jeremy Noseda in the one-mile Group 3 TBA Atalanta Stakes at Sandown. I rode her on her debut back in January, and thought then she would improve and make into a nice filly. She has only finished out of the first two in her six starts since and Jeremy is a dab hand with these types, so you can’t rule her out.

Chain Of Events also has a chance in the one mile and a quarter handicap. He has won twice over course and distance this season and will pick up a £100,000 bonus if he can complete the hat-trick. He has shot up the weights and was disappointing last time, but if he can leave that run behind him and put his course experience to good use, he can put up a bold showing.

Heavens is Great value

As it’s a quiet week, I thought I might take a look ahead to the (Ladbrokes) St Leger in a couple of weeks, as everyone gears up towards Camelot’s Triple Crown bid. I remember picking out Danedream prior to the King George at Ascot, so I’m going to see if I can repeat the trick here.

I think Camelot’s odds of 1-3 are way too skinny and if I was a betting person I’d be getting stuck into Great Heavens at 8-1, which is a cracking each-way price. She has gone from strength to strength this season, winning the Lancashire Oaks by five lengths and then the Irish Oaks by three. John Gosden has won three of the last five Legers, and fillies really blossom at this time of the year. I think she might be the first filly win the final Classic since User Friendly 20 years ago.

Have a great weekend!