Tag Archive for: Colin Tizzard

Johnson hails ‘great role model’ as Scudamore bows out

Former champion jockey and weighing-room colleague Richard Johnson has led the tributes to Tom Scudamore following the announcement of his immediate retirement.

Scudamore partnered over 1,500 winners, taking him into the top 10 most successful National Hunt jockeys of all time, a list in which Johnson also proudly sits.

While Scudamore never managed to emulate his father, Peter, and be crowned champion, he spent most of his career up against the record-breaking Sir Anthony McCoy.

“Tom is a great fella and was always brilliant to ride against and sit next to in the weighing room, so I’m surprised but at the same time he’s had a fantastic career and I’m not shocked he’s decided this is the right time for him,” said Johnson.

Richard Johnson (right) with Sir Anthony McCoy
Richard Johnson (right) with Sir Anthony McCoy (David Davies/PA)

“It was the same with me. In your own head if you are happy, that’s the right time.

“He’s been a brilliant jockey but even better than that, he’s a great role model for the young jockeys coming through. He has conducted himself brilliantly over the last 20 years and he’s got a lot to be proud of.

“He’s had a very consistent career, obviously he’s had a great association with the Pipes, he was great to deal with and easy to get on with which is important.

“I’m a little bit surprised, but delighted he’s gone out on his own terms. He’s got children and I can assure him he won’t be bored because with children you are busier after you retire!

“As a jockey you are always looking for good horses. He had plenty but then Thistlecrack came along and he was his main horse and the one people will associate with him winning the King George and those types of races.

“When people were looking for a jockey if their normal jockey was injured, Tom was always one of the names to be sought after so he’s got a lot to be proud of.”

Peter Scudamore (left), Tom's father, was a former champion jockey
Peter Scudamore (left), Tom’s father, was a former champion jockey (Mike Egerton/PA)

Peter Scudamore, a multiple champion jockey himself, knew the day was coming but admitted to still feeling a little “numb”.

“It’s mixed emotions. We’ve been very close throughout all his riding career. Most days we spoke,” he said.

“There is an element of surprise, but at the same time there is a feeling of relief. He’s 40 years of age, so I suppose it was inevitable one day.

“I wasn’t shocked, but a little numb I suppose I would say.

“I had lots of records in my career but I think he’s got more than that, he’s got huge respect within the industry and perhaps I should have taken a leaf out of his book!

“The one day that always sticks out in my career is Next Sensation in the Grand Annual, trained by his brother, Michael.

“I was stood with Luce (Lucinda Russell) in the stand by the second-last so we could just see the last fence. On the first circuit the horse made a terrible mistake and he went down and I thought it was all over, but he came back up again.

“It was AP’s (McCoy) final ride at the Festival, it was a very emotional race, my dad had won it and I’d won it too so that was very special.

“I might have ridden more winners than Tom, but in Thistlecrack he rode a horse probably better than I ever came across. Some may say Carvills Hill, but Thistlecrack achieved more on the track.

“He’s made me very proud.”

Thistlecrack was imperious when winning the King George in 2016
Thistlecrack was imperious when winning the King George in 2016 (Julian Herbert/PA)

Scudamore did not ride many for Colin Tizzard but after winning the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Thistlecrack, it was a partnership that was never broken.

Tizzard concentrated on Scudamore’s achievements out of the saddle and simply said: “He was a credit to the industry.

“Everyone else can say whatever they want about him as a jockey, I’ll leave that to them, but he was a credit to the industry.”

Scudamore was linked to the Pond House stables of Martin and then David Pipe throughout his career and the latter tweeted: “Happy retirement @tommyscu!!

“Thank you for your support, dedication, hard work & talent in the saddle for all these years! We have made a great team and share some wonderful memories & fantastic winners. I’m glad you’re going on your own terms and wish you well for the future.”

Stat of the Day, 8th February 2020

Friday's pick was...

3.05 Southwell : Thunderoad @ 5/1 BOG 3rd at 9/4 (Held up in touch on outside, headway into 2nd over 3f out, challenged 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish) - the lack of a finish showed why he's now 0/19.

Saturday's pick runs in the...

4.10 Newbury :

Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.

Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.

Who?

Highest Sun @ 11/4 BOG

...in a 7-runner, Class 3, Novices Limited Handicap Chase for 5yo+ over 2m7½f on Good ground worth £8,058 to the winner... 

Why?...

This 6 yr old gelding was quite well beaten back in fourth place last time out, four weeks ago, but in his defence that was a Grade 2 contest where he was unable to run his usual race from the front, as he had done when winning a Class 3 race at Plumpton two starts ago, under today's jockey Jonjo O'Neill (Jnr).

Back down at Class 3 and reunited with Jonjo, I'd expect him to be a different proposition today.

Jonjo is riding well of late and his 3 wins from 12 (25% SR) over the last week isn't a purple patch, as not only is he 13 from 53 (24.5%) over the past month, he;s also 5 from 18 (27.8% SR) for 24pts (+133.3% ROI) in handicaps here at Newbury over the last 12 months, including of relevance today...

  • 5/12 (41.7%) for 30pts (+250%) at odds shorter than 12/1
  • 3/9 (33.3%) for 8.25pts (+91.7%) over fences
  • 3/6 (50%) for 27.9pts (+465.4%) at 2m4½f to 3m
  • and 2/5 (40%) for 10.14pts (+202.8%) at Class 3

...whilst trainer Colin Tizzard's Newbury handicappers sent off at 12/1 and shorter since the start of 2016 are 12 from 34 (35.3% SR) for 44.4pts (+130.6% ROI) : all males. Now, despite 34 runners not being a huge number to work from, there are actually plenty of different successful/profitable angles to be derived, suggesting conditions might be in our pick's favour today, as of the 34 original qualifiers...

  • 12/25 (48%) for 53.4pts (+213.6%) after at least 3 weeks rest
  • 11/29 (37.9%) for 41.5pts (+143.2%) over fences
  • 11/26 (42.3%) for 48.1pts (+184.9%) at the ages of 6-10
  • 11/26 (42.3%) for 47.6pts (+183.2%) in 4-12 runner contests
  • 9/17 (52.9%) for 34.3pts (+201.6%) in races worth £6-12k
  • 8/17 (47.1%) for 26.4pts (+155.2%) at Class 3
  • 8/12 (66.6%) for 24pts (+200%) at odds of 5/1 or shorter
  • 7/18 (38.9%) for 25.6pts (+142.4%) from those either beaten by 10 lengths or more LTO or who didn't finish
  • 5/11 (45.5%) for 13pts (+117.9%) with class droppers
  • and 4/6 (66.6%) for 13.67pts (+227.8%) on Good ground...

...and if you wanted a composite micro from the above (mindful of a dilution of numbers, of course), you could try 5-10 yr olds returning from 3+ weeks rest to run in a 4-12 runner chase worth £6-12k for 8 winners from 13 (61.5% SR), all at Class 3 and giving 30.4pts profit at an ROI of 233.8%, including...

  • 6/8 (75%) for 17.47pts (+218.3%) at 5/1 or shorter
  • 5/7 (71.4%) for 23pts (+328.4%) from those defeated by 10L+ or DNF last time out
  • 4/4 (100%) for 15.67pts (+391.6%) on Good ground
  • and 2/4 (50%) for 2,54pts (+63.5%) from class droppers...

...giving us...a 1pt win bet on Highest Sun @ 11/4 BOG as was available from Bet365, SkyBet, BetVictor, Hills & Unibet at 8.45am Saturday, but as always please check your BOG status. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting...

...click here for the betting on the 4.10 Newbury

Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!

REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS

Here is today's racecard

P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!