I COULD have taken a couple of rides on outside hopes at Cheltenham today, or go to Wetherby for some decent chances.

Winners are what it’s all about for me, so I’ll be heading up north.

Miles To Milan is a horse I know and like and has a good chance in the Enjoy The Jumps On Racing UK Handicap Chase.

I won on him at Ayr in May on what was his second start for Olly Murphy and first go over fences. He showed a good attitude that day and he ran well at Chepstow at the end of last month on what was his second start back after a break. If he can back that up, then he won’t be far away.

His stablemate Skandiburg runs in the Biggest Ever Jumps Season On Racing UK Introductory Hurdle, on the back of a bumper win at Fakenham last month.

He looks a very nice horse and I think this stiffer track will suit. It’s difficult to know what you’re running against given they are all so lightly-raced, but you’d have to think he has a great chance.

I rode Pain Au Chocolat in the Triumph Hurdle three years ago and we now find ourselves reunited in the Enjoy The Jumps on Racing UK Handicap Chase.

He’s been running well in some decent handicaps and I’m hopeful he will run well but this race looks wide open and anyone of them could seemingly win.

At Cheltenham, I’d be very keen on Benatar in the big race of the weekend, the BetVictor Gold Cup, provided that he settles.

He has some top-class form from last season, including when third in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Festival. He reappeared at Newton Abbot after the summer, when he pulled far too hard, but presumably that will have put him spot on for this.

You’d assume the fast gallop and big field will help him relax and if he does, I think he’ll take a lot of beating.

I am at Cheltenham tomorrow, when I’ll be really looking forward to riding Brain Power in the Shloer Chase.

He’s a high-class horse on his day, as his second in last season’s Arkle indicates, and I wouldn’t read too much into the fact he hasn’t completed on three of his last four starts as I think he is a good jumper in essence; things just haven’t gone his way.

It’s a quality race but this is definitely his level.

I’m on Mad Jack Mytton in the feature race, the Unibet Greatwood Handicap. He’s run some good races around Cheltenham but he’s 50-1 with the bookies so it’s a tough ask.

I like the look of Midnight Shadow, the Scottish Champion Hurdle winner. He had a run at Wetherby last month which will have put him right for this and his profile fits this race perfectly.

  • Aidan is sponsored by Racing UK, which is offering a one-month free trial to the leading horseracing channel – but hurry as there is only a limited number left and the offer closes on Monday.
  • For more, please visit: www.racinguk.com/freetrial