Ben Jones Saturday rides blog: 'It could turn in a tactical race, but I don’t think I would change mine for any of the others'

Ben Jones has two rides at Ascot on Saturday, December 6, with Taurus Bay in the 11.48 race considered his best chance. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews both his rides in his latest blog.

• Taurus Bay - Aintree - 11.48 race odds

• It's Hard To Know - Aintree - 12.58 race odds

Taurus Bay – 11.48 Aintree

Taurus Bay is a lovely horse and I ride him in the first at Aintree. He won at Stratford, although I thought I was in a bit of trouble going down the back straight, but the further he went the better he got. He will probably now improve for his first run. He is such a likeable character and he does his work nicely at home. I schooled him this week and he schooled really well. There’s only three in it. Philip Hobbs’ horse is a decent animal but we like our lad a lot and have a bit up our sleeve. It could turn in a tactical race, but I don’t think I would change mine for any of the others. He’s my ride of the day.

It’s Hard To Know – 12.58 Aintree

It’s Hard To Know won two novices last year and we liked him a lot. He ran in the Challow and then Sandown but he had a good old break and he’s come back looking ten times bigger and stronger. He always jumped hurdles nicely and he schooled over fences a few times. Touch wood he’s a pretty decent jumper, so there’s no problems going novice chasing. He will probably come on for the run, but there has been a few of Ben Pauling’s that we thought needed the run but they’ve gone on and won. Whatever he does on Saturday, I’d say he will improve for it.

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