Hector Crouch enjoyed a fine couple of days on The Knavesmire for York’s Dante Meeting and is back with kwiff, previewing this weekend’s rides from Newbury and Newmarket.
Hector Crouch: Weekend Rides May 16th 2025
Hector Crouch: York Success
I was 50/50 crossing the line as to whether Rare Change had got up in the 7f Handicap, but was hoping we had had timed it right on the line. In the end, the photo went our way and it was nice for him to follow-up from last week’s success at Windsor.
There was less fortune elsewhere however, with Tattycoram well beaten in The Musidora and stablemate Doha likewise in The Middleton Stakes over a mile and a quarter. She travelled well before finding little in the closing stages and will improve bundles for that. I still think we’ll have a lot of fun with her this season.
Wimbledon Hawkeye ran a good third in The Dante Stakes, showing a really good attitude to stay on in the closing stages. I’m not sure whether he’s a real mile and a half horse, but there’s only one Derby and I wouldn’t put connections off in running him at Epsom next month.
Hector Crouch: Friday at Newbury
There’s a good book of rides at Newbury on Friday starting with Ed Walker’s Into Battle (2.25) in the handicap over a mile and a quarter. He’s got it to do, being drawn 15 of 15, but was a bit unlucky last time out at Haydock and will strip fitter for that run under his belt. From an unrevised mark of 80, I think he’s got a great chance.
Cape Orator (3.05) has done some nice bits of work at home and makes his debut in the 6f Maiden. The trip is probably a little bit on the quick side for him, with Ralph’s horses often starting out over seven furlongs or a mile, but he’s done some nice bits of work and looks another exciting horse for Valmont.
Ed Walker’s Tokyo Joe (4.05) looks a nice horse, making his reappearance in the 7f Maiden Stakes later on the card. I rode him to finish 5th on debut at Kempton at the end of last year, and he looks a potential nice middle distance horse later in the season.
NIbras Gold (5.55) is another horse that has improved since joining trainer James Owen, and made a winning debut for the team having left David Pipe in the spring. He did it nicely at Beverley over a mile and a half, and can hopefully defy a 3lb rise at the weights. If he stays the step up in trip, I think he has a very good chance.
Hector Crouch: Saturday at Newbury
I ride Karl Burke’s Andesite (1.25) in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes and think he has a good chance to bounce back to winning ways. The yard couldn’t be in better form after winners earlier in the week at York’s Dante Meeting and Andesite looked to have plenty to work with when fourth on seasonal debut last month at Chelmsford. He was too keen and pulled too hard to do himself justice, so fingers crossed he can settle better and make amends at Newbury.
Some nice horses have won the Fillies’ Listed Stakes over a mile and a quarter, and I hope to see Revoir (3.10) add her name to the honours board on Saturday. She showed a good attitude when Rossa won aboard her at Nottingham in heavy ground last season, and should improve as a 3yo over middle distances. It looks a tough race and this will hopefully tell us where we stand with her, in terms of potentials classics later in the season.
Hector Crouch: Sunday at Newmarket
It’s a relatively short journey to HQ on Sunday with a good book of rides and James Owens’ Sportingsilvermine (5.15) probably the best of the lot in the 1mf 6f Handicap. I went up to Musselburgh to ride hm last month and thought he was unlucky not to follow-up from a 5lb higher mark last week at Chester. He bumped into one that day, and I don’t see a further 6lb rise stopping him improving.
Ralph Beckett’s Bolo Neis (5.45) returns to handicap company having been third near the back-end of the season in soft ground, and has conditions to suit to get his head back in front. He was impressive when landing the big sales race in Ireland and could still be ahead of the handicapper from his mark of 99.
Ryka (6.45) makes his seasonal debut in the closing handicap over the straight mile, and could be another well-treated animal for trainer David O’Meara. She disappointed on soft ground upped in grade after making a winning debut last season, and should be ideally suited by the return to quick ground at Newmarket.
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