Jockey Hector Crouch capped-off January with three hat-tricks inside the opening month of 2026 and is back in search of more winners this weekend at Newcastle and Southwell. Read his exclusive weekend preview here.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides, February 6th 2026
My weekend starts with the long drive to Newcastle, with the last train back to Newmarket a NR due to setting off before the last race. It means a 13 hour day but there’s no complaints from me, there are certainly much tougher 13 hour shifts on a Friday.
Weekend Rides: Newcastle
I go to Newcastle for three rides, starting with Apache Outlaw (7.00) for Irish trainer Ado McGuinness. I don’t know much about the horse but it’s interesting to see him running over the minimum trip having previously been racing over further. He was a good third last time out over seven furlongs and presumably won’t be coming over to see the sights of the North-East. They should go a good clip and that should hopefully play to his strengths.
My two other rides are both for trainer Clive Cox and the Middleham Park Racing syndicate starting with The Dragon King (8.00) inf the 7f Handicap. I rode him when he won last time out at Wolverhampton, when he used a lot of petrol around the turn. He won’t have that sort of issue here and should have a very good chance if he settles. Fingers crossed we race in the centre rather than the far side, and the race should setup well for him.
His stablemate Sergeant Pep (8.30) was a good second last time out at Southwell under Rossa (Ryan) and has a good chance to go one better in the finale. He pulled too hard over 7f on his penultimate start but he’s got too much speed and a stiff 6f is perfect for him. The handicapper has raised him a pound for that run but he’s in good heart and should go well.
Weekend Rides: Southwell
Southwell is Saturday’s port of call with two rides starting with So Sassy (6.00) for trainer James Fanshawe in the 6f Handicap. I was aboard the well-bred filly when she scored at Lingfield in the summer, and she’s held her form well subsequently. She likes to stalk and be delivered late so the likely strong pace set by the likes of Ziggy’s Queen should play to her strengths. If I can deliver her late, she’s got a very good chance.
Kurios Lady (6.30) will have to concede a lot of weight to her younger rivals in the 1m Novice Stakes but she’s a big girl and could catch a few of these napping. She built on the initial promise shown on debut to finish a good third here a few weeks ago. The favourite probably had the run of the race that day and I’ll be looking to ride her more prominently and maybe catch a few of these out.
The 3yos in the field are getting lumps of weight here with the 73-rated Haydock scorer Tiger Power getting 7lb and recent Newcastle runner-up Dakota Breeze receiving a stone, but she’s a big filly and can hopefully give them weight and a beating.
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