Tag: Richard Hughes

Chester Cup Preview

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The Chester May meeting will always be one of my favourite festivals of the flat racing season. The tight track always provides thrilling racing along with more than its fair share of hard luck stories. This was the venue for Shergar’s stunning victory which set him on course for the Epsom Derby and his place in history. We will be previewing each day’s racing in detail as the classic trials unfold but the feature race of the week is still the Chester Cup.

A maximum of seventeen runners will embark on the two and a quarter mile trip with the usual mixture of seasoned campaigners and up-and-coming stayers. Last year’s finish was dominated by Dr Marwan Koukash with his horse’s finishing first and second. Jamie Spencer was guilty of playing his hand too soon on Angel Gabrial and was cut down close home by Ryan Moore on Suegioo.

Consolation came in the Northumberland Plate for the runner-up and he has been tried in a higher grade since. He is not a particularly big horse and I can’t see him shouldering his big weight successfully this year. He is 15lbs higher in the handicap while Suegioo enjoys a 10lbs pull for three and half lengths from Newcastle. I certainly wouldn’t rule out Marco Botti’s charge after a gentle warm-up race at Ripon.

The one that catches the eye is Quick Jack, trained by Tony Martin in Ireland. He has been favourite for a string of big handicaps on the flat and over jumps over the past 18 months. His trainer has chosen very carefully and has been rewarded with a victory at Galway and two fine placed efforts at Newmarket and Cheltenham.

He was unlucky not to win the Cesarewitch when beaten only three-quarters of a length into third behind Big Easy. Richard Hughes was on board that day and hit the front with a furlong to run. Don’t expect to see him until very late on here and much will depend on whether Hughes can weave his way through the field. There is a lot of rain forecast over the next couple of days and connections will be hoping that some of it falls on the Roodeye.

Mubaraza was favourite last year but failed to quicken in the home straight and finished fourth. Ed Dunlop also runs Trip To Paris who is on a hat-trick under Graham Lee. He stepped up to two miles for the first time at Ripon and beat Gabrial’s King decisively. The runner-up did not get a clear run up the straight but would not have beaten Trip To Paris. If the going stays on the quick side, he could be worth a saver.

Quick Jack 3.10 Chester Wednesday @6-1 Stan James

York Saturday Preview

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You can tell when the turf season is coming to a close when the races are being won by horses that were beaten by half the length of the street last time out! Old Town Boy was beaten 32 lengths last time while Miami Carousel was beaten 14 lengths when last of six, yet both were good enough to win at York on Friday!

The change in the going plays a big part and the ground remains soft ahead of Saturday’s card. The action gets under way at 1.50 with a mile handicap for three-year-olds. Empress Ali was a 20-1 shot when beating Master Of Finance at Chester last time and can confirm the form on 2lbs worse terms. She has already won on heavy ground and is hard to fault after being in the first two in each of her last four starts.

First Flight will be a popular choice in the second race after chasing home Air Pilot at Newbury in soft ground. Richard Hughes gave him a lot to do that day but he overhauled all bar the well handicapped winner and the handicapper has only pushed him up 2lbs. The winner was ante-post favourite for the Cambridgeshire but missed the cut so this looks a gilt-edged opportunity for the Godolphin horse.

Charming Thought has been taken out of the 2.55 race which could leave the way clear for Bond’s Girl to follow up her Doncaster victory. She had two lengths to spare over Mattmu that day and meets that rival on the same terms. Mattmu ran a fine race to beat all bar Limato at Redcar last week but there seems no obvious reason for him to reverse Doncaster form.

Finding the winner of the Coral Sprint Trophy at 3.30 may be rather like looking for a needle in a haystack! Twenty battle-hardened sprinters line up for the six-furlong dash including a fascinating re-match between Spinatrix and Supplicant, first and second at Ripon in September. They also meet on the same terms while Seeking Magic is allowed 2lbs for his half a length fourth. Ryan Tate also claims 3lbs off his back but he has no form on soft ground.

One who won’t mind the ground is Aetna who looked unlucky last time at Newmarket when third to Secret Hint. She appeared to stumble when starting her run and never really saw daylight until it was too late. A course and distance winner on soft ground in May, she is the selection.

Empress Ali 1.50 @6-1 Coral

First Flight 2.20 @4-1 Boyle Sports

Bond’s Girl 2.50 @4-1 Bet365

Aetna 3.30 @4-1 Ladbrokes

Goodwood Tuesday Preview

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All of our selections ran well on Saturday with two winners and a place to keep us narrowly ahead on the day. The low draw system at Chester seldom lets you down and B Fifty Two (tipped at 5-1) and Dungannon (tipped each-way at 10-1) gave us a sprint 1-2.

Goodwood provides the main action on Tuesday and we have a tip for all seven races. The action kicks off at 2.20 and this looks booked for the familiar combination of Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes with Mystic Jade. She ran a race full of promise on her debut here and should appreciate the step up to a mile.

The three-year-old maiden is slightly trickier to call with the yards of Haggas, Gosden and Varian all represented. I am just siding with Soviet Courage and William Haggas as the first two pulled well clear last time he ran and that is always a good sign. Ryan Moore in the saddle is usually a good indicator that Haggas means business. Too The Stars is bred out of classic winners Sea The Stars and Finsceal Beo so she is going to be some addition to the paddocks when she breaks her maiden.

The nursery is one of the toughest races on the card but I’m sticking with Flash Fire having supported him in his maiden race last time. He may just have a little bit more scope than some of the exposed types in this race. The Conditions race can go the way of Godolphin courtesy of Good Contact. He was not particularly impressive when landing the odds last time but the Newmarket he finished second in previously was probably the best maiden race this season.

Moore will be expected to boot home Dolphin Village in the two-mile handicap after a fine run at York’s Ebor meeting but he is stepping up half a mile. I was impressed by the amount of ground Spice Fair made up last time and I think he could possibly outstay the favourite.

If Moore has already rewarded his followers by the time they come to the sprint handicap at 5.10, they will be lumping on the speedy Inciting Incident. A favourable draw and give in the ground will make him hard to beat but I just feel that Dilgura has more potential. She goes well fresh and looks better value, providing the going doesn’t deteriorate.

The last race looks like a battle between Hughes on Last Minute Lisa and Cam Hardie on Hallingham. I think Hughes may just be able to get a little more out of his mount as Hallingham can look a little reluctant at times.

2.20 Mystic Jade

2.55 Soviet Courage

3.30 Flash Fire @5-2 Bet365

4.05 Good Contact @5-2 Paddy Power

4.40 Spice Fair @9-2 Paddy Power

5.10 Dilgura @13-2 Paddy Power

5.40 Last Minute Lisa @4-1 Bet365

Haydock Wednesday Preview

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The Derby meeting at Epsom proved a real money-spinner for Betcirca followers with seven winners from nine races covered over the two days. After forecasting four out of five winners on Oaks day, we followed up with wins for Baitha Alga and Cirrus des Aigles plus each-way profits on Kingston Hill and Romsdal in the big race.

There is hardly time to blink before Royal Ascot is upon us but there is an interesting card at Haydock on Wednesday. Lady Cecil does not have strength in depth at her yard but she does have quality and is sending four runners up north tomorrow.

Button Down runs in the opening maiden race and must have claims following her second to Hidden Dream at Salisbury. The winner hardly advertised the form this week but this promising filly by Oasis Dream is still improving and the extra two furlongs should help. The most interesting rival is the seven-year-old Montbazon, a classy hurdler trained by Alan King. He is having his first flat race a little late in life but King always felt he was Champion Hurdle class so it will be fascinating to see how he runs.

Magic Of Reality should go close in the one-mile handicap at 3.40 with only 9st 2lb on her back. The Galileo filly won twice last season at Salisbury over a mile and was second to Zurigha at Kempton on her comeback.

Lady Cecil and Richard Hughes team up again with Morning Watch in the 4.10 race. He was having only his second race when getting off the mark over a mile and a half at Lingfield and he should relish the extra two furlongs. The big threat is likely to come from Ryan Moore on Sandown winner Vent De Force. He beat habitual runner-up Tarabela by two lengths at Sandown over this distance and may still confirm the form despite a 9lbs rise.

Sea Meets Sky completes the Lady Cecil raid in the 4.40 race and this filly by Dansili also looks to have a winning chance. She won on her debut at Ascot last May and has been second on both of her subsequent outings. She should strip fitter for her seasonal reappearance at Doncaster last month and could round off a very successful day for the Warren Place yard.

Button Down 2.10 Haydock

Magic Of Reality 3.40 Haydock at 5-2 Coral

Morning Watch 4.10 Haydock at 7-2 Coral

Sea Meets Sky 4.40 Haydock at 5-2 Bet365

Goodwood Friday Preview

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The colts take centre stage at Goodwood on Friday with The Cocked Hat Stakes attracting some promising types. It is a long time since this race had any merit as a Derby trial but a couple of these still hold entries at Epsom.

The one that stands out is Roger Charlton’s Observational. He is yet to win a race after finishing second in both starts but has shown plenty of promise. He was second at Newbury in soft ground on his debut in October, staying on well without threatening to catch Chatez.

He did not reappear until April and ran a cracker in a valuable sales race at Newmarket over ten furlongs. He launched his run on the wide outside and looked likely to win with a furlong to travel but found Sudden Wonder just too strong. Charlton’s horses are usually better for their first run and the son of Galileo can get off the mark tomorrow.

Postponed is the obvious threat after finishing third in the Craven Stakes and fourth behind Barley Mow. That latest effort was slightly disappointing and Derby entries for both he and Observational look a shade optimistic.

Tioga Pass is my selection for the staying handicap in receipt of two stone from Lady Cecil’s Phaenomena. The latter beat Sir Michael Stoute’s Astonishing last season and that filly romped home next time out. Phaenomena let down her supporters next time and she looks vulnerable with ten stone first time out. Tioga Pass was stepping up in trip for the first time when winning at Kempton for Paul Cole and looks capable of improving further.

Our third and final selection is Red Refraction in the sprint for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes. The colt by Red Clubs has a poor win to run ratio but it was difficult not to see him as a desperately unlucky loser last time at Ascot. Held up in rear, he was guided inside by Sean Levey while the winner Blessington took the opposite course.

Levey ended up having to cut through runners late on to take second but the winner had flown. That was over six furlongs but he has raced over tomorrow’s distance of seven before and this looks a soft race. If you back him, don’t expect to see Hughes appear until late on.

Red Refraction 2.50 Goodwood at 2-1 Bet365, William Hill

Tioga Pass 3.25 Goodwood at 5-1 BetVictor

Observational 4.00 Goodwood at 5-2 Bet365

Ascot Saturday Preview

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The race scheduling is baffling again this weekend with top quality racing at Ascot, Lingfield and Haydock. As an avid fan of the flat, I am going to pass over Haydock’s jumps card including the Swinton Hurdle. They could easily move it to one of the recent bank holidays when there was very mediocre stuff on offer on the level.

Handicaps dominate proceedings at Ascot and I have to admit that the course proved a bit of a bogey meeting last year (with the exception of Royal Ascot). Whereas seven furlong handicaps used to be specialist races they now seem to be a dime a dozen. The Victoria Cup is the feature event tomorrow with the usual suspects gathered for the extended sprint distance.

You could fancy a dozen horses here and still not find the winner so it’s definitely not a race to get heavily involved in. I was kicking myself for not supporting Glen Moss last time, especially as Ryan Moore rode one of his rare poor races on Sir Reginald. The bad news for David Brown is that Glen Moss picked up a 5lbs penalty which may just be enough to thwart him on a track he loves.

Heaven’s Guest won another one of these races here last October, beating Bertiewhittle, Loving Spirit and Redvers among others. Of those, Loving Spirit looked to be having something of a prep race at Kempton last time and could be worth a flutter.

You also have to respect the claims of Brownsea Brink who was in electric form last autumn when winning three on the bounce. He ran a cracker in the Spring Cup at Newbury and that is usually a good guide to this race. Richard Hughes does the steering and should give us a run for our money.

It could be a good day for Hughes as he partners Hamelin for Lady Cecil in the opener and Pether’s Moon for Hannon in the second race. Both have winning chances.

Hamelin won well at Kempton and then confirmed that he is more than an all-weather performer by winning at Leicester off a mark of 85. He is up 6lbs here but looks like a handicapper worth following. Pether’s Moon is in great form having won at Kempton and then chased home Gospel Choir at Newmarket. He finished in front of Irish Derby winner Trading Leather last time and a repeat of that performance would be good enough.

Hamelin 2.05 Ascot at 11-4 Bet365

Pether’s Moon 2.40 Ascot at 9-2 Ladbrokes

Loving Spirit 3.50 Ascot at 12-1 Paddy Power

Brownsea Brink 3.50 Ascot at 14-1 Ladbrokes