Peter Scudamore on Ahoy Senor

He notes that the gelding has the superior, physical swagger that walks around the paddock that West Indian great Viv Richards used to display at the paddock. But the fairest comparison is with a pair of the most charismatic players ever to wear the England cap, Ian Botham and Ben Stokes.

Both have had iconic moments of personal brilliance that have become part of cricketing folklore. They’ve also had the occasional brain fart that wouldn’t be out of place on the village green.

Scudamore hopes the version of Ahoy Senor who lines up in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday, after some physical trickery and tactical adjustments, will knock it out of the park.

Scudamore, partner and assistant to Ahoy Senor’s trainer Lucinda Russell, said: ”Ahoy Senor walks into the paddock like he’s the king. I think sometimes because of that his concentration level is not high enough.

”A bit like Botham and Stokes, when he gets it right it goes into the stands, but he can take a wild swing and the ball ends up going to slip. He’s brilliant, but also has a few flaws. I’ve always felt he had a fallibility, but think we’ve hopefully fixed that.

”His breathing has never been a problem and we have dealt with a problem with his hoof. He will go out and collect it all at Haydock, but he hasn’t had too many hard races in his life and his homework is really good. He did a fabulous gallop on Saturday.”

Ahoy Senor’s hoof problem was Sidebone, where cartilage becomes calcified. It probably caused a grumbling pain in both of his front legs.

Treated with medication and a change in exercise routine, the Russell stables believe this was why the nine-year-old son of Dylan Thomas changed his legs more than most horses, particularly when approaching a fence.

The change of tactics was to have Ahoy Senor settle the tempo instead of forcing it.

The first result was positive. Derek Fox’s mount stayed strongly under top weight to be two and a quarter lengths third to Minella Drama in the two and a half mile Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month.

The run caught the attention of the stewards, who took note of explanations from the stable, but in all fairness it was the best performance Ahoy Senor has ever produced on his season debut.

The race was in stark contrast to the previous two seasons when Ahoy Senor made his comeback in Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase, finishing 40 lengths last of five to Bravemansgame in 2022 and pulling up behind Gentlemansgame last year.

Scudamore added: ”There was some criticism of his run in the Old Roan Chase. I was cross because he didn’t win, but you have to look at the bigger picture. He has run well and jumped well.

”It’s the definition of insanity to keep doing the same thing when it doesn’t work out.

”If I kept running him from the front like I did at Wetherby it would have been complete stupidity. I felt it accelerated his season.

”To use another cricket comparison, he has always been someone who was able to hit it at a lower level.

”But when you go up in class, techniques have to be improved. I think we allowed Ahoy Senor not to get his technique right.

”The Aintree race was part of getting it right. He has now shown that he can decide and finish his races better, which he clearly did in the Old Roan Chase. The horse must speak now, but I am satisfied with what I have.”

Ahoy Senor entered the season as the highest rated staying chaser trained in Great Britain. He will meet two up-and-coming stars at Haydock in Gray Dawning and Corbetts Cross.

Surprisingly, it will be a first run at Haydock for a horse whose best performances have come at Aintree.

Scudamore said: ”I made a joke of driving him around Aintree a couple of times before he goes to Haydock to make him think he’s there. But he has run elsewhere, including winning the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham. I think Haydock will look after him and the land too.

”He’s better going, which is unusual for a horse of his size. For his jumps, he likes a bit of bounce off the ground. We all look at the weather forecast. If is good or good to soft, we won’t complain and if he can get it all together he will be very competitive.”

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