Red-hot trainer Ruth Jefferson speaks with kwiff to discuss her recent winners, and a look towards Trials’ Day at Cheltenham with Kerryhill at the weekend.
The Life of a Trainer: Ruth Jefferson January Update
Hashtag is in good form and will go to Ayr for Tuesday’s Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over two and a half miles. She’s well in herself but we’ll have to just check the ground, It has dried out from being soft, heavy in places to soft, good-to-soft in places, so that would be ideal for her. Ideally we wouldn’t want anymore rain.
She’s an unassuming mare, and has only ever disappointed at the end of the season when obviously had enough. Those runs have come when stepped up in grade too, so we’ve had to almost go at her pace as we keep learning with Hashtag as we go along. She used to be keen in her races but fences have been the making of her and she settles much better these days.
Ruth Jefferson Update: Hashtag Boum
I’d expected her to get 5lb from the handicapper for that win last time out, so I can’t have any complaints. She has improved for the switch to fences, winning two of her three starts since going chasing, and the only horse to beat her is now rated 149 and won a G2 at the weekend. We’re still learning with her, but she is in great nick and goes well at the track. She’s 2lb wrong at the weights, but I’m expecting her to run a good race.
Ruth Jefferson Update: Aquitaine Boy
He did it nicely at Newcastle, getting a good ride from Jamie (Hamilton) who gets on well with him. He looked to get in front too soon, I wouldn’t say he idled, but he did have a little bit of a look around and pricked his ears. The right horses were in behind so the race looks to have a good shape to it – hopefully the handicapper doesn’t hammer us for that. We’ve declared him for Catterick on Wednesday and touchwood he should run well under a penalty. He has come out of the race well and Jamie keeps the ride.
Ruth Jefferson Update: Cheltenham Bound
I’ll be driving the van to Cheltenham on Saturday with Kerryhill touchwood running the The Cleeve Hurdle. It was a bit of a head-scratcher because nothing came to light after Haydock – although the ground was near bottomless by the time of this race. It took me a while to get over that race, I couldn’t have got him in better nick for that day at Haydock!
His palette was a bit flabby after, and we’ve given him some time to recover. We’re probably going to Cheltenham at the weekend, and if that goes well, we’ll leave him in (The Stayers’ Hurdle) at The Festival. If he runs poorly then we’ll take him out and save the £800 – it was £405 to enter but would be £13,000 to supplement him – so we’re giving ourselves the option. I’m not sure how good he is but I’m happy to take the chance and find out.
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