In a big week of racing, Tom Bellamy sat down with BOYLE Sports to talk through his Cheltenham rides and reflect on a career that has come full circle with Alan King .
Bellamy has run the rule over Hillberry Hill , Moonrocket and The Kemble Brewery , and explained why juggling two powerful yards can be tricky.
The jockey has also relived the buzz of his first Cheltenham Festival winner and named the one race he dreams of landing.
The Weekend Rides
Can You Talk Us Through Your Cheltenham Rides?
I'm hoping to have four rides over the few days. On Saturday, Hillberry Hill runs in a handicap hurdle. He won his only start for Kim Bailey and Matt Nicholls , and he's a really nice horse. He was meant to run at Aintree two weeks ago, but I think he had a bad scope.
I'm hoping it's written in the stars and he's waiting for me; we think he's on the right side of the handicapper. Then Moonrocket is in a three-mile handicap hurdle. He's a tricky horse who tends to go best this side of Christmas, and he took a good blow for his fitness at Cheltenham the other day, so he'll come forward for it.
He's an enigma; I wouldn't be surprised if he won, and I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled up. On Sunday, I have The Kemble Brewery in the Greatwood . He's a highly regarded horse and has won at the track before.
We were on a bit of a recovery mission with him at the end of last season after he tipped over fences at Chepstow . He took a lot of time to get over it physically and mentally, but he won two races over hurdles at the end of the year, so we're sticking down that route. We thought he was a winter horse, but he surprised us and probably wants quite a lively surface.
Full Circle
Tell Us About Life Back With Alan King, Where You Started Out.
I'm not tied there as such. I'm very privileged to ride for him, and for Kim Bailey and Matt Nicholls . I have two powerful yards behind me, and trying to juggle them can be a bit tricky. Alan has been a friend as well as a boss for many years;
I used to go there on my school holidays. He'd be good friends with my dad from their days at David Nicholson 's. It is a bit full circle. He makes no secret that he's not where he was with the jumpers ten years ago, and he's focusing a bit more on the flat as well. His business is going great, but I just wish it was a bit more heavy on the jumping side.
It Can't Be as Bad as Paul Nicholls, Who Is Losing Owners?
Yeah, he's had a very rough time with it, hasn't he? I don't think I'll be alone in saying you feel bad for him; he deserves a bit of luck.
The Dream
Did Winning Your First Race at Cheltenham Give You a Great Buzz?
That was by far my best day in racing, and being unexpected made it even better. I've been to the Cheltenham Festival with reasonable chances before and come away very deflated. I had a big-price second there a few years ago in the Pertemps , and I thought that was my one chance and it was never going to happen.
I went in with open eyes the last few years and finally got the surprise I was hoping for.
If There Was One Race You'd Love to Win, Is It the Gold Cup or the Champion Hurdle?
I think the Gold Cup is probably at the pinnacle, isn't it? The thrill of a Champion Chase would be unbelievable, but the Gold Cup is the standout. If you've got a horse that can win a Gold Cup , you're going to win lots of other big races along the way.
If he wins a Gold Cup , he's probably fancy for a King George too.
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