Tag: Richard Hughes

Newbury Friday 20th September Preview

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Mount Logan (5-4) got us back on the winning track yesterday at Yarmouth and looks like a decent colt in the making. Newbury and Ayr take centre stage on Friday and I’m keen on the chances of Richard Hannon’s Pupil in the one-mile Haynes, Hanson & Clark Stakes.

Those with long memories will recall that this is the race that saw the arrival of Shergar and Lammtarra on the racing scene, though I seriously doubt that there is anything of that class on show this season.

Pupil is a son of Mastercraftsman out of the speedy Blue Iris but stamina rather than speed seems to be his strong suit. Evidently he was well regarded at home before he made his debut at Newbury because he went off 7-2 favourite in a field of 12. There must have been some long faces after the race as he failed to pick up at all for Richard Hughes and beat only two home.

Whatever the reason for his disappointing debut, he looked a different proposition when stepped up to a mile at Doncaster on good to soft going. Once again, Hughes was able to settle him in rear but this time he made smooth progress with over two furlongs to travel. Mark Johnston’s Double Bluff took him into the race nicely and Hughes briefly had to get serious with Pupil to go in pursuit. In the final 100 yards he was well on top and powered clear to win by a length and a half.

None of the placed horses have reappeared to date so it is difficult to evaluate the form but Pupil looks sure to run well on Friday. Godolphin’s Pinzolo has won his only start at Newmarket but it looked a lot harder work than Pupil’s victory. It has to be said that he was going on strongly at the end so is another that should see out the mile well at Newbury.

Red Galileo has finished second on both of his outings, chasing home another Godolphin horse in Golden Town at York last month. He may have been slightly flattered to finish within a length and a half of the winner who wandered around in the closing stages. What About Carlo had Castle Combe behind him when winning at Goodwood but the latter could improve for the experience.

Pupil 3.40 Newbury 5-1 Bet Victor, William Hill

Sandown 18th September Preview

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The highlight of Wednesday’s action is the Listed Fortune Stakes at Sandown with Richard Hannon’s Wentworth bidding to step up from handicap company for the first time. The son of Acclamation has always shown the potential to make it at Group level and it was no surprise when he lifted the Golden Mile at Goodwood after near-misses at Ascot and Sandown.

After winning two of his three races as a juvenile, he reappeared at Goodwood over six furlongs in May where he put in his entry for the unluckiest loser of the season. With only six rivals, Richard Hughes contrived to get himself completely boxed in and the colt never saw an inch of daylight until it was too late. He was eventually beaten only a quarter of a length in third but should certainly have won convincingly.

On the strength of that run, he was a heavily backed 7-2 favourite for the one-mile Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was again held up towards the rear before weaving his way through traffic to finish a never-nearer fourth, under two lengths behind Roca Tumu. Punters kept the faith when he went to Sandown for the Coral Challenge.

Hughes, possibly mindful of the criticism he had received for his riding of the colt on his previous two starts, had him close up from a poor draw but he could not repel the late challenge of Prince Of Johanne and had to settle for third. He finally came good on his most recent start when holding off the useful Cape Peron at Goodwood to win off a handicap mark of 99. An official rise of 7lbs for that success still leaves him some way behind Penitent but there are reasons for believing that he can bridge the gap.

Hughes is adamant that the fast ground the reason for his defeats at Ascot and Sandown and believes that he will prove a much better colt with give in the ground. A heavy shower prior to racing was just sufficient for him to let himself down at Goodwood last time and the Irishman is confident that there is more to come.

By contrast, Penitent was well below his best last time although he definitely sets the standard on last year’s form behind Gordon Lord Byron at Longchamp. He was beaten only a length and a half in the Group 1 Prix de La Foret and would take some beating on that form. The best of the rest could be Andrew Balding’s Bana Wu but it will be disappointing if Hannon’s colt cannot take this on the way to better things.

Wentworth 13-8 BetVictor

Sandown July 6th Ante-Post Preview

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There is some terrific racing lined for Sandown and Haydock this weekend and prices have been chalked up for five races. However, there are two very good reasons to hold fire at this stage. Firstly, the good old British summer!

I am told that a heatwave is approaching that could last for several weeks. At the moment it is bucketing down with rain and the going in the back garden is more suited to the Welsh National than the Coral Eclipse! The second reason is the appalling lack of information over running plans that has so far been relayed to us hapless punters.

I have already taken a chance on Mars (20-1) and The Fugue (5-1) for the Eclipse and both have made it into the final eight. Ballydoyle are keeping us on the edge of our seats waiting to find out whether Camelot will run or be retired. I personally haven’t seen enough zip in his performances since Epsom last June to suggest he can win an Eclipse.

He has also confused everyone by leaving Declaration Of War as a possible runner. I don’t think anyone had considered him anything other than a miler but he would certainly make things interesting. Coral have topped up their sponsorship for the card and there are ante-post markets on the Coral Charge and the Coral Challenge.

The Charge could see Epsom Dash winner Duke of Firenze in action after his defeat in the Wokingham. He was only eighth there but he didn’t run badly at all. A few weeks ago you wouldn’t have had him alongside the likes of Kingsgate Native and Spirit Quartz but they ran miserable races at Ascot.

I am also keen on Moviesta and I’m convinced we didn’t see the best of him at York. He did not settle through the early stages and may just have burned off too much energy to hold off the late challenge of Body And Soul. On the figures he has a bit to find in this grade but he’s certainly in with an each-way shout if taking his chance.

Both horses are “jocked up” but I have no information as to whether or not they can be regarded as definite runners. Keiren Fallon has been booked to ride Opinion for Sir Michael Stoute at Haydock so it seems reasonable to assume that Ryan Moore is going to Sandown for Duke of Firenze among others.

The Coral Challenge is a one mile handicap and the sponsors are running scared of Richard Hannon’s Wentworth. This horse has been unlucky in both of his recent starts at Goodwood and Ascot and is a worthy ante-post favourite.

To be fair to Richard Hughes, he was trying to overcome what was generally perceived to be an impossible draw in stall 20 in the Britannia Stakes and he finished up behind a wall of horses with a couple of furlongs to travel. The horse knuckled down and finished better than anything in fourth and may well have won had he been able to get out sooner. The 100-30 won’t last long with Bet365.

Coral Charge
Duke of Firenze 6-1 Bet365

Coral Challenge
Wentworth 100-30 Bet365

Newmarket 2000 Guineas Preview

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I am just back from a week away and have been catching up with the news. I thought that I had selected a pretty quiet week for a break but apparently not! The Godolphin doping scandal has rocked the racing world; most particularly Newmarket as it shudders at the thought of life after Sheikh Mohammed. Fortunately it seems that there is no immediate threat to his racing empire and Mahmood Al Zarooni has been hastily despatched back to Dubai on the back of an eight year ban. That all seemed to be dealt with rather too hastily and you can’t help but wonder what repercussions lie just around the corner.

It only seems like yesterday that we were trying (in vain) to work out the Grand National winner and here we are approaching the first classic of the new turf season! Godolphin may have lost the chance to run Certify in the 1000 Guineas but they still have the favourite for the first colt’s classic in Dawn Approach. He is trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger but there is no doubt that the Godolphin operation has been tainted by recent events and it would be ironic if they collect on Saturday. He was smart enough as a two-year-old but without a recent outing I am not remotely tempted by odds in the region of 11-8.

His victory in the Dewhurst Stakes was more workmanlike than spectacular and he briefly looked in trouble before responding to pressure to run down stable companion Leitir Mor. He was well on top at the finish but it did not look a vintage renewal. In third place that day was Aidan O’Brien’s George Vancouver who closed in to challenge before flattening out again in the last furlong. He has three and a half lengths to make up on Dawn Approach but put up a much improved effort to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf next time out. He was given a perfect ride by Ryan Moore that day, holding his position on the fence before being produced between horses in the short straight.

The chief market rival to the favourite is Richard Hannon’s Toronado. His front-running display in the Craven Stakes has seen his price collapse to 9-4 and you can understand why. Hannon rates him right up there with the best and he goes into the race fit and unbeaten. He also looks a straight forward ride and you would expect Richard Hughes to have him right up there from the outset. Whether or not 9-4 is great value is hard to say but he looks a major player.

Aidan O’Brien also runs Cristoforo Colombo and Mars with Joseph O’Brien preferring to ride the former. He looks tried and tested and the application of cheek pieces on Saturday does not inspire confidence. Mars is obviously a colt of enormous potential but seems well down the pecking order at Ballydoyle ahead of the first classic. I am a big fan of Garswood who did this column a favour when winning the Free Handicap in great style recently. Trainer Richard Fahey admitted that he had no idea whether or not he would stay the seven furlongs that day but he is apparently now full of hope that he will last the mile. As much as I like the colt, I must admit that it had occurred to me that he was a classic contender and I am slightly mystified by his price of 12-1.

Of the remainder, I like Moohajim but his run in the Greenham suggested that he will not stay a mile. He cruised into contention but found little under pressure behind Olympic Glory. He will presumably be held up to get the trip but it is difficult to be confident that he will do so. Toronado looks the most likely winner but I’m also going to recommend an each-way bet on George Vancouver at 16-1.

Toronado 9-4 William Hill
George Vancouver (each-way) 16-1 Paddy Power