'He's a cross between Botham and Stokes with a bit of Viv Richards' – Scudamore hoping he's found key to mercurial Ahoy Senor

Connections of Ahoy Senor said his eyecatching comeback effort in last month’s Old Roan Chase at Aintree was part of their plan to sharpen up the nine-year-old’s technique and racing style to allow him to be at his best for races such as Saturday’s Grade 1 Betfair Chase. 

Peter Scudamore, who assists trainer Lucinda Russell, compared Ahoy Senor to a cricketer whose natural talent had allowed him to dominate lesser opposition but whose technique left him exposed when he moved up in grade.

Having previously raced prominently in his races, Ahoy Senor was dropped to the rear in the Old Roan before finishing strongly under Derek Fox to finish third. The ride drew criticism on social media for not being vigorous enough, while stewards noted the explanation given by connections that they wanted the horse to be settled to help him jump and finish off his race.

The performance earned a Racing Post Rating of 169, just a pound below the figure he achieved when second to Gerri Colombe in last season’s Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree, and Scudamore said the result was much more pleasing than Ahoy Senor’s previous two comeback efforts when well beaten in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

He said: “It wasn’t straightforward within the complications of the criticism he got, but I find it very difficult as that was his best first run. 

“They say the definition of madness is to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome, so if I kept running him in front like I did at Wetherby then that’s complete stupidity because I felt that cocked up the rest of his season. I walked away cross because I wanted to win [at Aintree], but you have to take the bigger picture; he’s run very well and jumped well.”

Ahoy Senor (right): jumping technique has come under greater pressure in high-grade racesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ahoy Senor last won in the 2023 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and fell on his next start in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, since when his jumping has, at times, been erratic and lacked fluency.

Scudamore said Ahoy Senor had been among the best horses he had ever seen school over hurdles and fences when first tackling them and that, as a result, less time may have been spent perfecting his technique.

“I use cricketing terms with him and he’s almost been the sort of person who can bash at a lower level – and you see kids do that – but when they step up their techniques have to improve,” Scudamore said. 

“We allowed him to bash at a lower level and not get his technique right, and part of running him at Aintree opens up another solution for me about how to ride him to settle and finish his races better.”

Asked which cricketers Ahoy Senor reminded him of, Scudamore said: “I’d say he’s a cross between [Ian] Botham and [Ben] Stokes with possibly a bit of Viv Richards as well. With Richards, people would have paid to walk to the crease like him and if you watch Ahoy Senor walk around the paddock you’d pay to walk like that. In terms of being brilliant and having a few faults, Botham comes in there.”

Ahoy Senor was one of ten horses confirmed on Monday for the Betfair Chase, with bookmakers pricing him up as the 5-1 second favourite behind Grey Dawning.

Scudamore is optimistic about Ahoy Senor’s prospects at Haydock, and said: “The problem is whether he’s just a better horse around Aintree, but it cannot be so as he’s run good races elsewhere. I feel he’s competitive in this type of race and if he can get it together he will be competitive.

“I think he’s better on good ground and I think, for his jumping, he likes a bit of a bounce. If it’s good, good to soft I don’t think we’d be complaining.”

Betfair Chase (Haydock, Saturday)
Betfair: 7-4 Grey Dawning, 4 Ahoy Senor, 9-2 Royale Pagaille, 7 Hewick, 8 Capodanno, 9 Bravemansgame, 12 The Real Whacker, 16 Gold Tweet, Limerick Lace, 40 Minella Drama.

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