Choc’s ready to walk the walk

Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton, rider of more than 1,000 winners, looks ahead to the first big fixture of the jumps season at Cheltenham this weekend ...

There will be a real buzz among us jump jockeys as this is the moment the campaign hits top gear. All the star horses are appearing — including Sprinter Sacre, who runs on Sunday, and Grands Crus, another ex-novice and hot favourite for tomorrow’s Paddy Power Gold Cup.

I’ll be trying to beat him on Walkon and I’ve got a good chance. My horse runs well first time out, including last season when he was impressive at Exeter. He didn’t build on that but as a result he has a nice weight. He has finished close to Grands Crus on level terms and we’re getting a stone this time, so we must be bang there.

There’s bound to be something lurking towards the bottom of the weights so I’d give a good mention to Divers while the rapidly improving Hunt Ball is also a big danger.

My boss, Alan King, will be sending some of his better horses for other races at the meeting. McVicar, for instance, has won both his hurdle starts but the opposition in tomorrow’s JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial will be a whole different ball game. I’m pleased with his progression, though, and he’s going the right way.

The novice races are especially worth watching this weekend, with the Cheltenham Festival in mind.

It’s really helpful for young chasers, in particular, to get experience of the undulating track for when they return here in March.