DESPITE being two weeks later than usual, it’s fantastic for everyone that the Coral Welsh National will still go ahead. It has probably been a nightmare couple of weeks for Chepstow’s clerk of the course Keith Ottesen and his team, but credit to them for doing everything in their power to get the race on which includes moving the race time forward to the first chase of the day. Hopefully they will be rewarded with a great contest.

I am very much looking forward to being reunited with last year’s winner Emperor’s Choice.

Although he didn’t run again after the race last season due to some minor niggles, it has probably benefitted him, as he is a fresher horse and perhaps that showed when he won impressively at Haydock in November, as he travelled much better than he’s ever done before that day.

Although he is 10lb higher in the handicap than when winning the race 12 months ago, I don’t see it being a problem as he is a very straightforward horse.

I’m sure he will give me another great round and there will certainly be more horses behind us than in front at the end of the race.

Also at Chepstow, I ride Mad About The Boy for Robert Walford in the opener. Unfortunately he had a bad experience the time before I rode him at Ascot in December, so making sure he has another positive run on the racecourse is important for his confidence.

I’m delighted to pick up the ride on Coo Star Sivola in the Coral.co.uk Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle for Nick Williams. Nick has won this race a couple of times in recent years so knows the type of horse needed to win it. Coo Star Sivola ran a very good race on his British debut at Cheltenham’s November meeting when just failing to beat Wolf Of Windlesham.

Usually the French horses come on for their first runs so there should be improvement in him if he builds on his Cheltenham run.

I ride for Venetia Williams in the last two races on the card including Otago Trail, who is a very likeable horse with a great attitude.

Although it’s not ideal to have top weight, he has it for a reason as he is such a consistent horse. He will love the ground and should give his usual solid running.

Top And Drop runs in the bumper and she makes her debut here. She goes well at home although we will learn a lot more about her after this race.

NEW AGENT

It was reported earlier in the week that at the end of the season I will be switching agents to Dave Roberts after John Ferguson’s operation comes to a close at the end of April.

It was a very hard decision for me to make, as Sam Stronge has been with me since I started and I have always got on with him so well, but with what has happened I felt I also needed to make a change and hopefully it will be positive for my career.

Whip rules have continued to dominate the racing pages this week with a few high profile cases and unfortunately the subject seems to be getting too much airtime. The stewards do the best with what they have in front of them and try to use their discretion, but the key has to be consistency.

The rules have been in place for a few years now and everyone should be used to them.