Ben Jones Saturday rides blog: 'I'm hopeful we'll be bang there in the big one'

Leading jockey Ben Jones has five rides at Uttoxeter on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all, including Neo King in the 3pm handicap hurdle.

• A Perfect Day - Uttoxeter - 1.50 race odds

• Doughmore Bay - Uttoxeter - 2.25 race odds

• Neo King - Uttoxeter - 3.00 race odds

• Dig Deep - Uttoxeter - 4.10 race odds

• Vrheligonne - Uttoxeter - 5.20 race odds

1.50 - Uttoxeter - A Perfect Day

Obviously it's been a very busy week for us, so it's always a nice stepping stone to go to a big meeting at Uttoxeter on Saturday, And my first ride is a horse called A Perfect Day for Ben Clarke. I think Ben must really like him, and he was running a nice race at Chepstow last time out before making a bad mistake two out, and he couldn't really get going after that. Hopefully we get a nice, clear run here though, and he should be bang there. He is dropping back in trip, but I wouldn't be too worried about that. 

2.25 - Uttoxeter - Doughmore Bay

Doughmore Bay is our next of the day, and I rode him at Windsor, two times ago, finishing second in a big handicap. I didn't think he would go on the ground that day, but I rode him accordingly and he stayed on really well. He went to Haydock from there and never really got going, which can happen around there. He's in another big handicap here, and if he can get into a nice rhythm, then hopefully I'll be able to rediscover that Windsor form and he can pick up the pieces late on. If he can finish in the top four, I'd say that would be a good solid run.

3.00 - Uttoxeter - Neo King

My next one is Neo King in the handicap hurdle, and I won at Windsor on him two times ago... he stays all day and is a brilliant little jumper... he then went to Haydock in the Gand National Trial, finishing third and running really, really well. He gets dropped in and picks up what he can later on in the race. I think everything should suit him here. He is creeping up in the handicap, but he keeps on running personal bests with each run, and if that continues, I'm hopeful we'll be bang there in the big one.

4.10 - Uttoxeter - Dig Deep

I really like Dig Deep. He hasn't had the best of seasons in terms of results; and he kind of took a backwards step from his first run of the year. His form hasn't been that strong, but I do really like him, and if he doesn't do anything more this year, then he'll definitely be one I'd be telling people to keep an eye on next year. He seems in good order at home though, and I'd say this will be his last run before he goes on a nice little holiday.

5.20 - Uttoxeter - Vrheligonne

My last ride of the day is a horse called Vrheligonne - she's a massive mare, and I wasn't expecting too much from her first run, but she just kept galloping and galloping - she was a little bit green up the running and drifted a little bit right. If she runs a similar kind of race to that, then she'll be bang there. She's a lovely, big mare and hopefully she can pick up a bumper somewhere along the way, but she's definitely going to be winning a couple of nice novice hurdles next year. 

It's a nice book of rides to end a really good week - I'm looking forward to it.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.