Ben Jones Saturday rides blog: 'I really like my chances against him'

• Lord Byron - Cheltenham - 12.40 race odds

• Ma Shantou - Cheltenham - 3.35 race odds

• Taurus Bay - Cheltenham - 4.10 race odds

This is the time of the year now where horses are having probably their last runs before trainers start making decisions about where they're going to go next and what they're going to do, with the Cheltenham Festival in mind. It's an exciting time of the year - obviously it can be a disheartening time of the year as well if horses aren't up to scratch. But with the squad that we've got, at this stage, we're looking quite strong, and hopefully we can just keep building. You know, we only need a couple of horses to run a little above average to not only warrant a run, but to be competitive at the festival in March, which is a massive step up from going there just for the day out.

12.40 - Cheltenham - Lord Byron

Lord Byron is my first of three rides on Saturday, and he's trained by Faye Bramley, who I've never ridden for. The horse was even-money last time out when he got beaten by a length at Exeter, and the horse that went and won that day [Klycot] actually won at Wetherby on Thursday so the form is looking strong. Look, it's obviously a decent juvenile at Cheltenham and he's going to have to step up. But hopefully he can step up and if he can find himself back in the paddock, then it will have been a very decent run.

3.35 - Cheltenham - Ma Shantou

Ma Shantou is next for us, and he's already won twice at Cheltenham this season, with Harry Cobden on board - I rode him at Haydock in between those two races, which obviously feels terrible because the pressure is now on me on Saturday! He just never got into a rhythm on Saturday; it's a funny track and he just never went. We didn't beat ourselves up about it, and luckily he went back to Cheltenham the last day and won again, so he's put that day at Haydock behind him.

He's obviously stepping up in grade here and I think he's probably allowed to show his hand at this class now. Obviously Impose Toi has been brilliant this year and Strong Leader has done everything right but win, so this is a very strong race. There's only six of us in it, and if our lad steps up again from his last ride, then we'll have a chance. He is the baby of the group here, if you like; he's definitely the newcomer as it's unknown territory for him. You know, if he'd have got beat the last day in the handicap, you'd have thought he wasn't good enough for the step up, but he didn't; he won it, and so I think he's allowed to see just how good he is here. If he goes and wins on Saturday, then I guess things will be very clear for us as to what's next on the table for him in March.

4.10 - Cheltenham - Taurus Bay

I really like our lad, Taurus Bay, in the last race of the day here. He's done absolutely nothing wrong for us. I go back to his first day at Stratford and what I liked about him there was that, for whatever reason, I thought I was beat down the back. You know, I didn't think he was going to go and win, but he ended up doing so very convincingly. To me, that says he's got a lot of class, and a lot up his sleeve. 

At Aintree, yes there were only three runners, but I thought he was very professional in victory, he jumped brilliantly there, and I think the extra few furlongs here is going to suit. I just like everything about him; he's nothing spectacular to look at, but he's a very neat and economical jumper who travels well, with a turn of foot at the end. I really like his chances here.

Act Of Innocence looked impressive the first day, and he obviously beat Dan Skelton's Sinnatra, who has since gone on and won nicely. But the last day, when Act Of Innocence got beat, fair enough he was giving a stone and a half away, but he still got beat. Look, it's only three-quarters of a length he got beat by; if he'd have won by half a length we'd be saying fair play, his class came through and all of that kind of thing... but I really like my chances against him. Hopefully we can keep everything very straightforward; there's only eight of us in this. If we're there turning for home, I'd say we'll have a very, very, very good chance. He'd be my best chance of the day.

One to watch on Saturday... Kicour La - Doncaster

Ben [Pauling] has got another one which is running at Doncaster on Saturday [Kicour La], which is likely to run at Cheltenham in March, who is a lovely youngster. He was actually against Taurus Bay on Saturday at first, but luckily they've separated, so I didn't have to make any calls about who to go with!

My first ride of the day is at 12.40, and Kicour La goes off at 12.55 at Doncaster, so even after all of the presentations that might come after winning, I should get back in time to watch him on TV. One way or another, I will watch it; whether it's live or whether it's after he's run. He's a really exciting one because he's very unexposed... he's won two races at Leicester, of all places; you know, if that was around Newbury, or whatnot, people would probably be taking a closer look at him. But he's won his races nicely, he's a big, great horse, and I think he'll have a very good chance up at Doncaster. Someone said he's 33s for the Turners' Novices' Hurdle... if he goes and does what I think he can do on Saturday, then he'll definitely half his price there, so I'm excited. 

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