It’s another busy weekend for me with a good book of rides at Wincanton and Sandown, and like last week, I go into it again with another exciting prospect in Francis Of Assisi.

Eight horses go to post in the Stanjames.com Elite Hurdle, which has been won by some decent horses in recent years and John Ferguson who trains Francis Of Assisi won the race last year with Purple Bay.

He has done nothing wrong so far over hurdles and is unbeaten in three races. He has a fair amount of ability and has a similar profile to Nabucco, who won at Ascot last Saturday, in that he has done what has been asked of him relatively comfortably, but is stepping up in class today. It’s always exciting going into a race with a horse of unknown quantity, but I am hopeful that he can continue on an upward spiral and is my best chance of the day.

I ride Drop Out Joe in the Badger Ales Trophy after winning on him on his reappearance at Chepstow last month. He travelled and jumped super that day but has gone up 10lbs for that win which is not ideal and won’t make life easy. It looks a competitive race but he is sure to give his running.

I’m looking forward to riding Kalane in the Mares race who was very good when winning the Mares Final at Newbury in March, before running with credit at Punchestown. Although she has to give weight away all round, she has the pick of the form and should go well.

King Of Glory was very unlucky not to win last year as novice and ran some solid races in defeat. Venetia’s horses are in good form and he is only having his fifth start over fences, so fingers crossed he can get a first victory under his belt.

Over at Sandown tomorrow, we see the return of Gold Cup winner Coneygree in the 188BET Future Stars Chase. I remember being second on Houblon Des Obeaux when he won the Denman Chase at Newbury and thought then that he was a proper Gold Cup horse, but to actually go and win it was a fantastic achievement.

I ride the outsider of four, Seventh Sky in the race and he had a very successful year as a Novice winning five times. Obviously we are under no illusion of the task he faces here, but he is a good horse in his own right and hopefully he can improve on his reappearance at Newton Abbot.

Jeanpascal is a horse I liked last season and he managed to win won one of his three starts. He was a little bit weak before, but has strengthened up over the summer, so I am looking for a positive comeback run.

Of my other rides at Sandown, Aachen runs in the Veterans Chase and is a consistent sort who wouldn’t be without an each-way chance here. My final mount of the weekend is Full Irish in the bumper for Emma Lavelle who I’m told goes quite nicely, but until you get a horse on to the racetrack you never know, so we will see.

It has been a great week for me having ridden eight winners, including a hat-trick at Ascot last Saturday, which I was delighted with.

I was impressed by Nabucco at Ascot who handled the step up in class well and I look forward to riding him on his next start. I was also very happy with Aso’s performance at Warwick on Wednesday, it was a very competitive four-runner novice chase and although he didn’t win, he ran the winner very close, got some important experience over fences and he doesn’t have to carry a penalty next time out.

To see Cue Card win the Charlie Hall Chase last Saturday was great. Although he went off favourite, I think he went under the radar slightly. I rode him at Punchestown and I don’t think people really appreciated how good a run that was behind Don Cossack, but it was brilliant to see him back in the winner’s enclosure.

Aidan is sponsored by leading racing broadcaster Racing UK, which recently launched its Day Pass. The new service enables racing fans to watch a day’s action for a one-off fee of £10. Visit racinguk.com/daypass and watch today.