Hector Crouch is back previewing All Weather Finals Trials Day at Lingfield on Friday, as well as four rides at Southwell on Saturday.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: Huge All Weather Championship 2025 Trials at Lingfield
Jockey Hector Crouch heads to Lingfield for All Weather Championship Trials Day with three excellent rides in Rosa Applause, Good Banter and Moon Over Miami. Read his thoughts on these, and Saturday’s Southwell rides below.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: Friday at Lingfield
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: (Rosa Applause)
I have three excellent rides at Lingfield for the All Weather Finals Trials at Lingfield, starting with Rosa Applause in the Fillies and Mares Trial Handicap over seven furlongs. She is making her debut for trainer Harry Charlton having enjoyed a good campaign last season, winning twice on the all-weather, including scoring here over six furlongs.
She was consistent in tough handicaps last season, and looks the type to improve over further. With good early speed, I’m hoping to defy an awful draw in stall 11 (of 11) to get a handy position early and make good use of her.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: (Good Banter)
Another horse to have been drawn in the car park is Clive Cox’s Good Banter (3.00) in the All Weather Championship 3YO Trial Handicap. He shed the maiden tag at Wolverhampton, and followed-up under a penalty under Richard Kingscote when doing it the hard way from the front.
He looked progressive in both of those Wolverhampton successes, he knew his job well, and he looks open to further progression after just three career starts. The opening mark of 93 looks quite fair and providing we can navigate a safe passage across from stall 12 I think he has a good chance. I think he’s my best chance of the day.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: (Moon Over Miami)
Moon Over Miami should go close in the AWC Marathon Trial Handicap for Ralph Beckett and Valmont. There were high hopes for him when returning from a break at first Southwell, and then Kempton when disappointing on both occasions and being too free to really get home.
The main takeaway from the last race was that I think we were maybe riding him the wrong way – there’s no point getting into an argument with him early doors. He pulled too hard last time out and he took a white to settle. That left us too far back in what turned out to be slowly run races. He might not quite be a ‘cup horse’ but he’s very good and I remain hopeful he’s better than a handicap mark of 91 suggests.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: Saturday at Southwell
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Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: (Rogue Tornado)
Rogue Tornado looks a nice horse for James Owen has been a consistent handicapper since joining James Owen in the autumn. You can probably put a line through his run last time out at Plumpton over hurdles, and before that had run well here when third over two miles. The drop back in trip will suit, and he should remain competitive from his mark of 73.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: (Kinetic)
Kinetic is another from the James Owen yard that has been in good heart over the winter, winning recently at Kempton under 7lb claimer Warren Fentiman. She’s a nice filly that was a good third here over a mile and a half recently, and should improve for the drop back in trip. The application of a visor has eeked further improvement still, and I’m hopeful of a big run.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: (Man of la Mancha)
Man of la Mancha is a horse I like a lot and was better than the bare result on debut last month at Kempton. He was very green on debut and practically fell out of the stalls, realistically losing all chance before staying on late to finish 5th. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the different challenge of going the other way round, but with natural progression expected from his first run, I’m confident of a good run.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: (Nad Alshiba Rain)
Nad Alshiba Racing looks a nice addition to the Owen yard (from Mick Appleby) and ran a nice race last time out on debut for the yard just 11 days ago at Wolverhampton. Hopefully the change of scenery has done her good and she will prove competitive off a mark of 70.
By Hector Crouch
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