Yahoo Sports UK columnist Jim Crowley: Squeeze-y does it!

In his exclusive Racing Plus newspaper and Yahoo Sports UK column, Bet4Causes brand ambassador Jim Crowley looks ahead to Saturday’s big meetings at York and Newmarket. He also pays tribute to Kieren Fallon upon his retirement, plus gives his thoughts on all his weekend rides…

THE big meetings and top races come thick and fast at this time of year – and this weekend is no exception, with the July Cup at Newmarket, the John Smith’s Cup at York and the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

While I was at Newmarket yesterday, I will be at York this afternoon and in France tomorrow.

If York rides as well as Newmarket did (all credit to Michael Prosser and his team for producing perfectly safe, fast ground) I don’t think there will be too many complaints.

While Richard Fahey does not have a guaranteed runner in the 57th John Smith’s Cup after Garcia missed the cut, he does have a strong team today and I partner Lucky Mistake (1.55) in the juvenile maiden.

Making his debut, this Fast Company colt is a half-brother to six winners over a variety of trips. I don’t know much about him and whatever he achieves today, he is sure to be better for the experience.

Magic Circle (2.25) goes in the two-mile stayers’ stakes for Ralph Beckett. He is not a bad sort and looked quite progressive until probably unsuited by going up in trip at Ascot last month. Today he drops back to the trip he won over at Haydock last October and will be suited by the track. He could hold a nice chance.

I was really looking forward to riding Manson in the mile handicap but has been switched to Newmarket (3.25) and I will have more than an eye on that race to see if Ryan Moore can steer him home.

Instead, I ride Miss Van Gough (3.00). She is not a bad little horse, a progressive sort, and was not beaten far at Epsom last time. However, Mr Fahey’s representative is drawn 16 which isn’t ideal over the York mile, so that will be an obstacle to overcome.

Pamona (3.40) will have to be at her very best if she is to have a chance in the Silver Cup and it is such a hot race that even her best might not be good enough, particularly with the likes of Barsanti and Curbyourenthusiasm in the line-up. That pair are going to be hard to beat.

But in the 57th John Smith’s Cup, Spanish Squeeze (4.15) would appear to have a very good chance, according to his trainer. Hugo Palmer really likes him and he wanted me to go to York specifically to ride him.

Spanish Squeeze is a very lightly-raced four-year-old who has had a few niggly little problems, stupid things that have kept him off the track, but he has been training well and he could be nicely handicapped.

I’ve also got Kingsgate Native (4.50) as well. At the age of 11, he’s nearly old enough to smoke, but he’s a lovely horse whom I’ve won on before. It would be great to see this grand old campaigner grab another win and hopefully that will come in the Listed 5f City Walls Stakes.

Tomorrow I am at Chantilly, riding First Selection (3.15) in the Prix Jean Prat for Simon Crisford.

He was second to The Gurkha in the French 2,000 Guineas, where we made much of the running and I won’t ride him any differently. Chantilly is a front-runner’s track and if he ran to that form, he will be bang there. While Nemoralia looks the one to beat on paper, she is a hold-up horse, so will need luck in running.

Having won and been second in the race, it would be nice to bag it again.

Salute to ‘King Kieren’

KIEREN FALLON’S retirement was not totally unexpected. The six-time champion jockey has been suffering from depression for the last three years and he needed hospital treatment for it.

One hopes that the 51-year-old (above) can get all the help he needs.

In our game, it is mentally tough. It is very brave that he has come out and said he has an issue. Some people keep things bottled up and don’t say anything, so fair play to him.

In any sport, when you have been at the highest level and you are no longer at the top – it happens to pretty much every sportsman – it is probably quite difficult to deal with. You see depression common in ex-boxers, ex-footballers and plenty of other sportsmen, and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

Kieren was one of the greatest jockeys I’ve ever seen. There have been so many instances of his magic. Kris Kin in the Derby was an awesome ride, his Arc ride on Dylan Thomas was brilliant and all round, when he was in the zone, he was simply the best.

Ask any trainer and they will tell you the same thing: horses ran for him.

When Kieren was behind you in a race, you could always hear him coming, because he perfected his famous whistle – it was quite a common thing and we all miss it.

He was always very good to me. If I asked his advice, he was fantastic. He was quite a kind person to deal with in the weighing room. He was also clean rider, never a dirty one, and would always look after you if you were in trouble in a race. He was good like that.

Everyone has got to stop riding at some point and whatever he does now, he will be a real asset to someone. His knowledge is phenomenal.

We naturally all wish him well but I know one thing: the sport is a little less rich without ‘King Kieren’.