Coral Ambassadors

Hugo Palmer's US Friday runner - October 30, 2026

SALE SHARK

9.35pm Keeneland

I couldn’t be happier with Sale Shark, he shipped out to Keeneland really well, and he looks fantastic.  He had a nice little canter on the grass on Thursday morning, they will call the turf track firm but it’s been well watered and Sale Shark’s exercise rider felt it was the easy side of good.

They won’t water again, it’s warm here with no cloud, so by race time it will be the fast side of good I’m sure, but not firm ground as we’d think of it here, at Bath for example.

We’re stepping him up to a mile for the first time, his pedigree says he will stay, in fact his pedigree suggests he shouldn’t be a five furlongs horse at all, so really he’s been outrunning his pedigree. If he can use the turn of foot he showed when winning at York two runs ago at the end of a mile race, then I genuinely think he has a chance, but that is a big if.

In terms of the draw, if I was picking it I would have probably chosen four to nine, with five and six being the first choice, so from stall nine Oisin can jump and slot in, we don’t want to make the running anyway. 

If Oisin can switch him off at the back, and we are within striking distance of the lead turning for home, I think he will look as if he has a really solid chance at the furlong pole.  Oisin and I are both confident he will stay seven furlongs, whether he stays eight, we’ll just have to see. 

Sean Bowen Saturday rides - October 31, 2026

VENEZUELAN 

12.35 Wetherby

Venezuelan is a horse who obviously has a good level of ability on the Flat. He was rated in the 80s at his peak and is still rated 73, so he’s clearly a decent horse in that sphere.

He made a good first start over hurdles, although he was a little novicey with his jumping at times. That’s something he’ll need to sharpen up, but I’d imagine that will come with experience.

He looks to have a nice chance, although the John Nallen horse, who has a mark of 125, looks the one to beat. We’ll see how we get on, but I’m looking forward to riding him.

STRONG LEADER

2.18 Wetherby

I’m really looking forward to getting back on Strong Leader, particularly as he won this race last year.

He beat Take No Chances by a neck 12 months ago, but his task is probably a little tougher this time around, as he’s 4lb worse off with that rival.

That will make things slightly harder, but he ran a great race in the contest last year and I’m hoping he can put in another strong performance. It’s great to get back on a horse who has already shown he can win this race, and hopefully he can give us another good run.

SLEDGEHAMMER

4.03 Wetherby

Sledgehammer is a horse I don’t know a great deal about yet, but he arrives here in good form after winning quite nicely on his first start for Adrian Keatley last time.

That was an encouraging performance, and hopefully he can build on it at Wetherby. I’m looking forward to getting a better feel for him, and if he can reproduce that last run, he should go there with another good chance.

My season so far and the battle with Harry Skelton

Things are going great at the moment, and I’m happy with how the season has started. I’ve ridden 80-odd winners already, so there’s plenty to be pleased about. The next milestone is obviously a hundred winners for the campaign.

Harry Skelton is absolutely flying, though, and naturally I’d love to be a little closer to him in the jockeys’ title race. He’s riding plenty of winners, so it’s a challenge, but all I can do is keep my foot on the gas and continue working hard. I had things my own way last season, but I am enjoying the battle with Harry this time around.

There’s a long way to go, and the most important thing is to keep riding winners whenever the opportunities come along. I’m pleased with how things are going, and hopefully I can maintain that momentum over the coming weeks and months.

Joe Tizzard Saturday runners - October 31, 2026

NO WAY JAY

3.10 Ascot

We did have Rock My Way and Scarface in the big handicap chase here as well, but the quicker ground just put me off for both of them. There’s a long season ahead and I’d rather wait for some ease for the pair of them.

No Way Jay ran well here last season to finish fourth in a decent Listed bumper, the form of which has worked out well. Unfortunately this fellow then ran out very wide in both his starts after that, losing all chance both times, but he’s shown no signs of doing that anywhere else.

He’s schooled really well at home, and with the horses running really well, I’d be hopeful he will run a big race. I hope he might take some beating in a valuable novice hurdle.

RIGHTSOTOM

3.43 Ascot

This horse is a head-scratcher, and he always has been. I just don’t think he tries very hard, hence we’ve put blinkers on him here. He has had a run at Chepstow this season so he’ll be fit, and we’ll ride him positively, but I don’t think he puts it all in, which makes him frustrating.

COLOMBE D'OR

4.15 Ascot

Colombe d’Or is a nice little horse for the same owners as Rightsotom. He’s quite a racy sort, so this bumper should suit him well. I’ve had a couple of placed horses in bumpers recently, and this fellow goes as well as them, if not better, at home. I like him, and I would not be surprised to see him run into a place at least.