'Trainers in the north – and elsewhere – send good horses here'

Carlisle

It's a very fair track and a lovely place to introduce novice chasers. The fences are well-prepared and inviting, and with the last half-mile being uphill you don't get tiring horses being asked to jump a downhill fence. Trainers in the north and elsewhere – send good horses here and they get a good grounding to go on to achieve further success. I've won the Colin Parker Memorial race for the last two seasons and I always like riding here.

Haydock

I've had a bit of luck here and it's a nice flat track that doesn't offer too many problems for jockeys, although the ground can get quite deep in the middle of winter. I hadn't been going that long in my career when they got rid of those big drop fences and installed the portable fences, so as far as I'm concerned I can't say it's altered the character of the course. It's a fair circuit and you get very good horses running there.

Aintree

The best horse usually wins here – I'm talking about the Mildmay track – although the fences can take a bit of jumping. The modifications they made to the National course have made it very horse-friendly, although it hasn't helped me much as I've made it no further than the first fence on my last two rides in the race! The course looked at the issues, made changes, and they have got it right – its recent record speaks for itself.