TO have my name next to Coneygree in Saturday’s Betfair Chase was a great position to be in.

I was by no means certain to ride the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and as it proved Menorah, the horse Richard Johnson was declared to to ride in the same race was withdrawn on Friday night.

Richard Johnson is the first choice to deputise for the injured Nico de Boinville; he’s champion jockey and has ridden the horse before, I totally understand the position and I am just flattered to be considered.

Once the extent of Nico’s injury was revealed I read that Mark and Sara Bradstock had said I would be next choice after ‘Dickie’. My agent Dave Roberts confirmed that if Richard was declared to ride Menorah, then I would be on Coneygree. And that’s how it turned out, and then it didn’t.

It looks like being one hell of a race. I’ve always been a big fan of Cue Card and I’m sure he will have come on for his first run of the season in the Charlie Hall. He’s won this race twice before and could so easily have scooped the £1m Jockey Club Triple Crown last season but for falling three out in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

I’d also really fear Seeyouatmidnight. He could still be improving and with likely heavy conditions right up his street, he could really announce himself as a proper Grade 1 horse. Then throw in another dual winner of this race in Silviniaco Conti, and Charlie Hall winner Irish Cavalier, and it has the makings of a cracker.

Everyone knows what Coneygree’s game is about, he gallops his opposition into the ground from the front and hopefully should be a straightforward ride. The Bradstocks described him as being in brilliant form, and it would have been a real pleasure to get on him.

The Betfair Exchange ‘Fixed Brush’ Handicap Hurdle is always a very tough race to win as you’d expect with an £80,000 pot.

I won on Matorico at Cheltenham in April, and then he was a fine third at the final meeting at Sandown. He didn’t disgrace himself on the flat on his two subsequent runs. It is extremely competitive but Jonjo O’Neill’s horses are going well and could hit the places.

BEST CHANCE

Leaving aside Coneygree, my best chance lies with Saroque, who was fourth in the Coral Welsh National. The Better Value With Betfair Handicap Chase is the sort of race – three miles in soft ground – which will suit him and Venetia Williams has had two winners from her last three runners. He has a solid chance.

Last weekend was a fantastic one for me and it was good to end a bit of a lean run, not helped by a spell on the sidelines. To ride the big winner of the open meeting was a real thrill and Taquin Du Seuil showed what a class act he was in the BetVictor Gold Cup.

I had said to Alain Cawley a couple of weeks back that I thought I had a real chance, and the formbook would have told you that. He’s a Grade 1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival and had showed he was in good form at Chepstow on his previous run over hurdles. You never think these races are formalities and it was very competitive as always, with the likes of More Of That in the field, but I knew I was in with a real shout.

That said, he didn’t travel well at the beginning and took his time to get into a rhythm but when I asked him to go and win the race, he really dug deep for me. I’ve seen him since and he seems well. I don’t know plans, but I guess a race like the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup would make sense for him next.

The weekend continued in great style, thanks to Fox Norton’s win in the Shloer Chase. He was very impressive and did everything right. I see he’s as short as 6/1 for the Betway Champion Chase and he’s still going to improve but, if he gets there, then Douvan will be might hard to beat.

I sensed a muted atmosphere when I pulled up and sadly it was because Simonsig was fatally injured. I did feel tremendously sorry for all involved with the horse, especially the grooms, and it shows the emotions involved with this sport. One moment we were celebrating the retirement of a legend in Sprinter Sacre and then the next moment we’ve lost another star in Simonsig.