Scudamore looking to Ahoy Senor to hit Betfair rivals for six

Former champion jockey Peter Scudamore turned to a cricket analogy as he likened Betfair Chase contender Ahoy Senor to “a cross between Ian Botham and Ben Stokes with possibly a little bit of Viv Richards” ahead of his run at Haydock on Saturday.

The talented nine-year-old, trained in Kinross by Scudamore’s partner Lucinda Russell, is on a losing run stretching back nine races to January 2023.

However, he ended last season being beaten just half a length by Gerri Colombe at Aintree and was staying-on strongly on his return at the same track over two and a half miles into third.

“I use cricketing terms with him. He’s almost been somebody who’s been able to bash at a lower level,” said Scudamore.

“You see kids do that and then when they have to step up their techniques have to improve and I think we allowed him to bash at a lower level and not get his technique right.

“I think part of running him at Aintree now opens up another solution for me, that he settles and he might finish his races better, which he clearly did at Aintree. The horse has to do the talking now, but I’m pleased with what we’ve got.”

He went on: “I think he’s a cross between Ian Botham and Ben Stokes with possibly a little bit of Viv Richards.

“I always think people would have paid to walk to the crease looking like Viv Richards and if you watch Ahoy Senor walk around the paddock you’d pay to be able to walk like that. As far as being brilliant but having a few faults as well, Mr Botham comes in there as well. I love my cricket and I think it’s a good way of describing it to the public.”

Regarding this weekend’s race, Scudamore would not want the ground to get too testing in case it affects Ahoy Senor’s jumping.

“I think he’s better on good ground, which is unusual for a horse of his size, although he did win the Cotswold Chase on soft. I think for his jumping he likes a little bit of bounce,” he said.

“Obviously we’re all looking at the weather forecast now and if it was good or good to soft then I don’t think we’d complain at that.”