Daniel Tudhope: Getting booked up for Royal Ascot

Now that the Investec Derby meeting is over, there’s two days at York at the end of next week, including the annual Macmillan Charity Raceday, and then Royal Ascot.

I have had a lucrative week already, capped on Thursday with an across the card treble at Carlisle and Haydock.

One of my winners among that trio is probably set for the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal Meeting. Soldiers Call was quick and ran well, so the owners and York sponsor, Clipper Logistics, should have an exciting day at Ascot where trainer Archie Watson will be targeting a first winner.

My book of rides for the week after next at The Queen’s racecourse is coming together.

David O’Meara has put old favourite Suedois, Lord Glitters and recent York runner-up So Beloved, in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes.

I would be bullish about the chances of Main Desire, another Clipper Logistics-owned horse, in the Group One Commonwealth Cup a week on Friday, although she also holds an entry in the King’s Stand Stakes.

Trained by Michael Bell, she already has two Listed victories to her name at York from just three undefeated outings in total.

In advance of the five days at Ascot, there’s the two-day June Meeting at York to look forward to next Friday and Saturday when there is just shy of £400,000 in prize-money up for grabs.

We professionals in the weighing room will be competing for a good chunk of that during six races on Macmillan Charity Day on the Saturday which are sandwiched between The Queen Mother’s Cup for lady amateur riders and the Best Western Hotels & Macmillan Ride of their Lives, also for amateurs, including Love Island star Chris Hughes.

Being organised, both on and off the track is a key skill for a jockey.

At a practical level, you need to think through things like your nutrition and hydration over these long days of summer racing across multiple venues.

Daft though it might sound, you also need to think through how many changes of clothes you’ll need, especially if you are meeting owners after racing and need to look smart.

So I’ll be taking advantage of the presence of a tailor and the shoe shiners at York next Friday as part of the inaugural Mr Green’s Gentleman’s Day.

Back to today, and I take four rides at Haydock, a racecourse I really like, especially so as – with the exception at York – it’s the one at which I’ve earned most prize-money for my owners.

Two of the races are Group 3s, but it is in the two sprint handicaps in which I think I have my best chances.

Summerghand has already won twice this season and goes for the six-furlong ‘Dash’ at 4.35pm, while Lord Of The Glen, trained by Jim Goldie in Scotland and a runner-up at York on his last outing, goes over the same trip 35 minutes later.

Although she’s not at the head of the betting, What A Home must be respected in the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes as no horse comes north from Yorkshireman-in-exile William Haggas’s yard in Newmarket without a chance.

Larchmont Lad, third last time at York after boiling over in the preliminaries, will need to improve if he wants to win the other Group 3, the John Of Gaunt Stakes.

The next racing at York is on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 June, Mr Green’s Gentleman’s Day and the Macmillan Charity Raceday. Find out more at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk.