Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 07 December 2011 / 9

There has been a switch of jockeys for Saturday's big race at Cheltenham - find out who rides who, here

I run two in the International at Cheltenham on Saturday, but there has been a change of plans as regards jockey bookings.

At the request of his owners, Harry Derham now rides Brampour. So Ruby Walsh takes the mount on Sanctuaire.

I discussed it through with Brampour's owners yesterday and presented them with the facts, obviously pointing out that Harry couldn't claim, and gave them 24 hours to think it over and make a final decision today.

And they have just come back this morning and said they are staying loyal to Harry after he has guided it to victory at Ascot and in the Greatwood at Cheltenham. They are in the game for the love of it, and want Harry to ride him on Saturday.

Harry clearly gets on very well with the horse, but Ruby switching to Sanctuaire is certainly not a negative to that one's chances.

As he showed in the Fred Winter and in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, Ruby is the key to making this horse tick and, if Overturn is in the line-up, he is likely to get the strong pace he needs. He is just the kind of talented, if quirky, horse to run a blinder in one of these races at a big price.

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1. Anonymous | 07 December 2011

   harry derham is going to p1ss ruby and daryl off sooner or later and paul is doing nothing to stop it (maybe even fuelling it). johnny murtagh and paddy brennan might be worth talking to before things get out of hand
   

2. tom foley | 07 December 2011

   well if the owners want the boy on the horse they are fully entitled to do that after all they are paying the bills, and im sure if paul thought the young lad wasnt up to it he would not have put him up in the first place.he gave him a great ride the last day at cheltenham

3. Anonymous | 07 December 2011

   yes he did...with his 7lb claim. essentially now the horse has a 7lb penalty. all im saying is, if it happens much more i think ruby will find other things to do with his time than ride second string nags for nicholls
   

4. paul | 07 December 2011

   owners and punters dont care who rides the horse as long as it wins when the money is down,if the horse does not win then people will look at the ride the jockey gave the horse for future races.
   Harry Derham 2 rides 2 wins 100% LEAVE HIM ON BRAMPOUR !

5. Gez Emm | 08 December 2011

   I am quite sure that Ruby Walsh is adult enough to not be too concerned about Harry being given the ride on Brampour and I would hardly call Sanctuaire a 2nd string ride, you hace to bear in mind that Ruby also gets the plumb race rides and is a wonderfully sensitive and patient rider who also has top rides for Willie Mullins. I am sure that Paul knows his views on the matter and has been in consultation with him on the situation.

6. Anonymous | 08 December 2011

   ruby walssh on a 20/1 shot in sanctuaire , worth a little dabble each way. there will b a huge shake up in the antepost market here

7. jj | 08 December 2011

   20/1 for ruby walsh to win here, cracking price , antepost market for ch will change after this

8. Anonymous | 09 December 2011

   People are forgetting what Sanctuaire did last time Overturn was in the field as well. I don't think Sanctuaire is the second string at all, could be a little set up.

9. william austin johnson | 16 December 2011

   Dear Paul
   I am a great fan.
   my all time favorite horse was Denman, and as a second jockey you could not have had a better rider than Sam Thomas.
   I don't know what went wrong in you relationship, for him to dissappear out of sight.
   But in my oppinion he is twice the jockey that Daryl Jacobs is.
   He never stops making a lease one mistake during a race, several of the horse's that he has ridden this year should have won, but bad mistakes in these races have cost him dearly.
   Just my oppinion for what it is worth.

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