In this week’s edition of Jamie Moore’s Diary, the Hollywoodbets-sponsored jock chats to Neil about his win aboard GOSHEN in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle, upcoming runs at Newbury and more!
Jamie posted his biggest success of the season at a meeting laden with controversy when steering GOSHEN home in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot last Saturday.
The Moores felt their stable star would have it all to do trying to concede weight to Champion Hurdle favourite CONSTITUTION HILL, but did not have to resort to it when that horse became the first of a trio of top names to be scratched owing to underfoot conditions that were considered too quick by their trainers.
No sooner had Nicky Henderson pulled stumps with Constitution Hill than Alan King did the same with EDWARDSTONE in the two mile handicap chase and then Venetia Williams withdrew L’HOMME PRESSE from the Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase.
But Gary Moore, Paul Nicholls and Evan Williams all defended Ascot’s Clark Of The Course Chris Stickels, and Jamie Moore recalls: “I said before that we would struggle to beat Constitution Hill, but by a stroke of luck he came out and then I knew we were in business.
“I’d sat next to Nico de Boinville in the jockeys’ room, and when he said they were thinking of withdrawing I thought it might be a bit of mind games, but in fact it all worked out in our favour.
“My personal view was that the ground was good, good to soft in places. I ride at Ascot almost as much as anyone and it was not as fast as at the previous meeting, when we had a lot of runners that all came home fine.
“After Nicky made the decision not to run Alan King and Venetia Williams and other trainers followed suit, but I think Ascot had it right. It was just a shame for racing that the people that paid were not able to see such good horses in action.”
He's done it! Goshen wins the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at @Ascot for @jemoore85 and @gl_racing! pic.twitter.com/wmuZXqi8WO
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 19, 2022
Jamie was delighted with the way GOSHEN put his race to bed and added: “He’s now won each of the last three hurdles he’s contested and it meant I’d had a winner on every day I went racing during that week.
“As he can’t go left-handed we will have to look carefully for another race for him. They have unfortunately done away with the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown, and it’s a while before he can try to win the Kingwell Hurdle (at Wincanton) again.”
One of the horses Jamie is most looking forward to riding this weekend is PORTICELLO in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.
He explained: “PORTICELLO is a lovely horse and I’m excited about riding him again. He ran well in the Triumph Hurdle and the softer the ground the better for him.
“TEDDY BLUE also ran in the Triumph and he goes for the Gerry Feilden Hurdle. They are similar horses, but it’s usually hard for the good juveniles in their second season over hurdles.”
Jamie has good chances at Lingfield tomorrow and concluded: “I ride GIVEGA in the novices’ hurdle. He hasn’t run for us but is a very nice prospect. He will love the ground, and should go well.
“WALK IN THE WILD won well on his reappearance at Lingfield and will be favourite for the two-mile handicap chase. He has a great chance, my one concern being that he’s dropping back in trip although the heavy ground will help. There’s a David Pipe horse (Master Blaze) that’s come down in the weights, but I hope we can beat him.”
