Tiddliwinks

Tiddliwinks got no sort of run in Silver Cup at Ayr on Saturday, and he deserves another chance. The riding tactics employed here were in stark contrast to the tactics used on Tiddliwinks’s previous run in the Portland at Doncaster, where he was ridden far too aggressively up front. Jamie Spencer was more patient on Kevin Ryan’s gelding this time, holding him up towards the rear of the stands’ side group. Things looked to be going well two and a half furlongs out, Spencer looked confident while most of the other jockeys were scrubbing away. It looked as if the son of Piccolo was ready to produce a big challenge, but no gaps appeared in front of him, every viable option was cut off and it wasn’t until deep inside the final furlong that Tiddliwinks got out, which was obviously far too late. Spencer wasn’t hard on him when it was obvious that he couldn’t win, and he still looked full of running at the end.

Backing unlucky losers next time out is a route to the poor house, and Tiddliwinks is a high profile unlucky loser now, so there is every chance that he will be well backed wherever he goes next, but he would surely have gone close to winning if he had got a run here. Instead he finished back in 17th. He has been running really well so far this season, he has been knocking on the door in a lot of the big six-furlong handicaps. He was beaten under two lengths in both the Sky Bet Dash and the Stewards Sprint, he was beaten just over two lengths in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon, and he finished fourth in the Portland, when he was ridden too aggressively. He will be interesting next time in another big handicap. Hopefully Spencer will keep the ride, as he seemed to appreciate being held up here, and Spencer has the confidence to ride him like this again.

18th September 2010