Don’t miss 32Red ambassador Jamie Spencer’s latest column as he talks about his weekend rides
Jamie has four good chances at Sandown and talks about his latest round of I-Spy
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I TOOK a right old beating this week – at ‘I Spy’.
We had a nightmare journey on Tuesday. I was meant to ride at Chelmsford in the evening but having left Epsom at 2.55pm the motorway was shut.
I missed my ride at Chelmsford – which ended up winning – and it took eight hours to get home.
Eight hours on the M25 isn’t ideal and we ended up playing I Spy we were that bored.
I couldn’t even win that. There was me and Martin Harley but my driver Tony Elves beat the pair of us. I was glad to get out of the car I can tell you.
I had better luck at Lingfield the following day.
David Simcock’s Annecy won the auction maiden on the all-weather.
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We had won that race last year with Teppal. She went on to win the French 1000 Guineas and Annecy looks to have a bright future.
She was only just ready to start. The ground has been so firm we haven’t been able to get on the grass all summer so the two-year-olds have been a little bit behind.
The fact she could win first time out bodes well going forwards. She should be able to win with a penalty next time out.
I’ve got four rides at Sandown today. I start with Jashma (1.50) for Richard Hughes. He’s been very busy this season but he is been holding his form.
He often runs well at Sandown and he won here last season. That’s a help as it’s a different style of track from most sprint courses.
We’re drawn right out in stall 13. That’s not ideal but he is a hold-up horse so it’s not like he has to blast out and go forward.
He’s a bit keen so the big field should help him settle and I’d say he has an each-way chance.
I’m also on Uncle Jerry (4.10) for Richard. I rode with Hughsie for years and he’s making a good fist of training.
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Uncle Jerry doesn’t look too badly treated for his handicap debut. It’s an open race but the step up in trip to 7f will be a help.
He’s another who’s got a wide draw so we’ll have to overcome that. We’ll try to get a nice position and take it from there really.
I don’t know much about Secret Return (4.45) – I’ve ridden her before.
It’s a tough enough race and it looks a stiff task for her but her trainer Paul George has done well so far. I’ve had one ride for Paul and it finished second so hopefully we can go one better.
A wide stall won’t help much – I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such a bad day with the draw.
The draw doesn’t really matter for Dream Machine (5.20) as he drops in a bit so, typically, he’s got stall one.
I rode him last time out at Windsor when he didn’t like the fast ground. When I wanted him to go he just wasn’t comfortable on it.
He’ll be much better on today’s surface and he’s fresh having had just two runs this season.
I’ve ridden a few winners for his trainer Neil Mulholland and we go back a long way.
We rode together as apprentices in Ireland and he’s doing well training jumps and Flat horses.
Dream Machine is certainly not handicapped out of things yet so he would have to be my best chance of the day.