Angus McNae's Racing UK Blog
	Saturday 18th January 2014

Can Big Buck’s really be a poisoned chalice?

I am not privy to what has gone on behind the scenes as far as the Big Buck’s saga is concerned but put yourself in Daryl Jacob's shoes and ask yourself whether you would want to ride Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle or would it really be a poisoned chalice?

I think the answer is a simple one. Of course you would want to ride him. Being on top class horses in top class races is what up and coming jockeys dream of, it's what they do the job for. To get beaten on him would be disappointing but hardly a career ending moment for Jacob. In any case unless he lost because of some catastrophic tactical error nobody is going to blame Jacob for defeat.

This begs the question whether Jacob did in effect turn the ride down or are there other factors at work. I suspect we are dealing with the latter and it is most unlikely that we will be privy to what has gone on.

What I do know is that if Steven Gerrard was asked to take a crucial and potentially match winning penalty in the dying minutes of the World Cup final he would take that penalty, the words poisoned and chalice would not cross his mind. Enough said let's move on.

If this wet weather continues for a few more weeks we could be in for some shocks at Cheltenham where in all probability the ground will be on the quicker side. All of the most recent form that we will have at our disposal come March will be wet ground form and this could make winner finding at the Festival pretty tricky. Let's worry about that when we get to March for now we need to accumulate some units and give ourselves some decent firepower come March.

Cat O Mountain obliged at 3-1 in Dubai on Thursday and hopefully we can keep up the good work today.

I am going to start with the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park where for me the big question is whether Night Alliance can overcome a 13 pound rise in the weight following a facile success at the track last time out? The trip and conditions are no problem and I suspect that despite the rise in the weights he is going to run another big race. When he won the Tommy Whittle last time he travelled like a horse that was well ahead of his mark and simply sauntered clear in the home straight to beat Loch Ba as he liked by 11 lengths. I can see little reason to think he will fail to travel as well this time around and he looks to be a good bet to make it back to back wins at Haydock.

Angus's Saturday Selection:

3.15 Haydock: Night Alliance

I will be back on Thursday with a look back  at all the action from Meydan that took place on tjhe UAE Guineas Trials day and will be asking the question did we see a sprinting star of the future in the shape of United Color?

All will be revealed next week. Enjoy your weekend.