I HEAD to Stratford for three rides today.

This time of the year is always quiet with it being between Cheltenham and Aintree and the way the ground is at the moment.

My first ride is Adjutant who makes his debut over hurdles in the Support Your Oncourse Bookmaker Novices’ Hurdle.

He has schooled well at home and seems like a nice horse, but this is his first start since October and is bound to come on for the experience.

He was rated 88 in his prime on the flat when trained by Brian Meehan and Olly Murphy is in good form.

It looks a competitive race on paper but hopefully he can run well.

I have never ridden Gardiners Hill – who I ride in the Join Stratford Racecourse 25 Club Handicap Hurdle – before, so I don’t know too much about him.

He has plenty of experience and has been running consistently over fences and hurdles so looks very versatile.

David Rees has done well with him and he has got a light weight to carry which won’t be a struggle for me.

Cloud Formation makes his racecourse debut in the Join Racing TV Now Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

I have never sat on him before, but Martin Keighley does well with his bumper horses, and I have ridden plenty of winners for Martin during my career.

It is hard to know what to expect from horses having their first start, but I am hoping Cloud Formation can make his presence felt.

Paisley Park has been on the go for a long time and is now having a well-deserved break which I think is a good decision. Hopefully he will be able to run at Aintree or Punchestown next year.

He has had a busy year as he was in training a bit earlier at the start of the season when he was being prepared to run in a handicap at Aintree in October.

He doesn’t need to improve as he has already proved he is the best staying hurdler in training, but I don’t see why he won’t improve again next season. We always knew he was capable of producing a performance like he did in the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle.

He is a very exciting horse and it is great to have a horse to look forward to like that for next season.

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