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JERRY MCGRATH |
Weblog: A young jockey making a name for himself
Jerry schooled Spirit River (white) over fences this week with Yogi Breisner
PICTURE: Mark CranhamSchooling is fun, but it's even better with Yogi
Last Friday, myself, AP [McCoy] and Sam [Waley-Cohen] went to school a few horses under the watchful eye of Yogi Breisner. Working with Yogi is phenomenal, it's the little things he notices that make all the difference and I can report Long Run went very well.
I thought Weird Al and Time For Rupert ran really well at Wetherby, but they'll have to go some to beat Long Run. No-one here at Seven Barrows was too worried after the race, put it that way and it's scary to think how good he could be this season.
I was there to school Spirit River. He won the Coral Cup in 2010 but things just didn't go quite right for him last year. He actually jumped well until falling at Newbury and it just affected his confidence because he wasn't quite the same at Cheltenham.
He's still a novice and we've done a lot of work with him at home which seems to have brought his confidence back and I was very happy with him. He could be a very good horse over fences.
A filly full of promise
On Wednesday I rode Miss Ballantyne for Nicky Henderson at Warwick. The ground was a bit too quick for her but we let her take her chance. I was very tight for room coming off the home bend and got squeezed out of it but she stayed on nicely after that to take third.
She'll be better on softer going as she hits the ground quite hard and I think she's a proper winter horse and a very nice filly. It was her first experience on grass so she should learn a great deal and I didn't knock her about once the race got away from us so she should be winning soon.
I also had my first ride for Anna Brooks at Wetherby last Friday on a horse called Mudita Moment. He ran well and will definitely improve for the run as it was his first run of the season.
Not racing much, but still very busy
With a bit of rain finally coming we've been able to get a few more horses out on the grass and a lot of the bigger names are really starting to step up their work. Things have been really busy down at Seven Barrows and I've been doing my bit to helpout around the yard as I've not been racing too much of late.
I've watched a lot of racing as you can learn so much watching others ride and I've been keeping myself busy down the gym and at Oaksey House. I love running and swimming so it's not been too bad but I can't wait to get back race riding. Hopefully with the meetings starting to come thick and fast I can pick up a few good rides.
Riding at Sandown this weekend
I should be at Sandown on Saturday where I'll be having my first ride for Noel Chance on Fabulous Fred. He's got some decent form but it looks areally competitive race. Hopefully I can make the best possible start to riding for Mr Chance.
Eradicate is also set to make his chasing debut for Mr Henderson and I'd love to see him win because he's one of my favourites. He did me ahuge favour when we won the Swinton by 13 lengths at Haydock and he's schooled really well.
You can follow me on Twitter @JerrymcGrath
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