Ben Jones Saturday rides blog: 'He's a very likeable character who seems to run solid races every single time'

Ben Jones has five rides at Ascot on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all in his latest blog.

• The Jukebox Kid - Ascot - 1.00 race odds

• Ooh Betty - Ascot - 1.40 race odds

• Bad - Ascot - 2.20 race odds

• Samuel Spade - Ascot - 2.43 race odds

• Uptown Dandy - Ascot - 4.05 race odds

1.00 - Ascot - The Jukebox Kid

I'm off to Ascot on Saturday where I've got five rides, starting with The Jukebox Kid for Ben Pauling in the three-mile £100k chase. He seems in brilliant order at home, and although I've only ridden him once up in Carlisle, I had a brilliant spin on him and he won very nicely that day. He went to Cheltenham the last day and just never quite got into the groove there. He still ran fine but I think he's much better than that run. Hopefully he'll have a very good chance in a very, very big pot.

1.40 - Ascot - Ooh Betty

My next is a little mare called Ooh Betty for Ben Clarke. I've ridden her a good bit throughout my career, and she's one that I seem to get on with really well. We finished third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and she was only beaten by a length at most there. She's a brilliant little mare, but I wouldn't want more rain to be coming for her. She tries her heart out though; I think she finished third in this race last season, and while she hasn't been putting runs together yet this year, if she can find a bit of last year's form here, then hopefully we can find ourselves in the placings. 

2.20 - Ascot - Bad

Then we've got Bad in the handicap chase and he doesn't need any introductions. He's a very likeable character who seems to run solid races every single time. He's a brilliant jumper, and we're up in trip here from the last day at Ascot. He's another one though who seems to be in tip top form at home, so I'm very much looking forward to riding him this weekend.

2.43 - Ascot - Samuel Spade

Then I've got one called Samuel Spade for Ben [Pauling]. He was actually running a really nice race the last day, although he's never really made the running, when I popped him out at Newbury he just didn't quite see out the three-mile trip. He looked like a winner at two out, and then he just faded a little bit coming down to the last. So he's come back in trip here, and hopefully he can have a very good chance; he seems to grab a big pot every year, and maybe Saturday can be the one for him this season. 

4.05 - Ascot - Uptown Dandy

Then I finish the day with Uptown Dandy who is a very, very consistent type. He has run in two bumpers and twice over hurdles now, finishing second on both occasions. He's one that always tries his heart out for us; he's not overly big but he jumps well. He's up in trip here, which I think would suit him, and I'm hopeful his consistency alone means he won't be too far away in this one, and we can give his owners a good day out again.

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