Group 1 winning jockey Hector Crouch is back with his weekend preview for rides at York & Nottingham, including a ride for His Majesty The King at the latter on Sunday. Read his exclusive thoughts for kwiff below.
Hector Crouch: Weekend Preview, May 30th 2025
It was a mixed week, with Friday off for a suspension received at Newbury earlier in the month, but a couple of nice winners earlier in the week including a double at Salisbury on Saturday. The first of which was Stanhope Gardens, who hopefully booked his ticket to Epsom with a relatively smooth return defeating two rivals in the Conditions Stakes over an extended mile. We had high hopes for him after he finished his 2yo campaign with an excellent second behind Ballydoyle’s Derby Trial winner Delacroix in The Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.
Weekend Preview: Dreaming of Derby Success
He has been a bit slow to come to hand – hence why he missed some of the perhaps more conventional trials – but did it nicely at the weekend and goes there with hopefully a good chance. The thing that impressed me most about his win on Saturday was his gallop out. He hit the line strong and even flicked his ears when he caught glimpse of himself on the big screen. It was all very routine for him, with plenty more to come yet.
Weekend Preview: York Bound
I am at York on Saturday with a decent book of rides, starting with Byzantine Empress (1.30) in the opening 6f Handicap. He looked a little stretched when third on his reappearance over 7f at Haydock, and should strip fitter for a run under his belt after a lay-off. Jedd’s string remain in good string and he has a good each way chance in what looks a typical competitive York handicap.
Ed Walker’s Do or Do Not (2.05) was better than the bare result when down the field in a Newbury Maiden (the form has already worked out well) and he has a lot to do against the market principles, but I was surprised to see him as big as 33/1 to shed the maiden tag at York.
There was a lot to like about the return of ALLONSY (3.15) last month at Goodwood when fifth on her seasonal reappearance and desperately in need of the run. She ran well for a long way before getting tired at a time when Ralph’s were all just needing to get a run under her belt. The step up in trip will suit and I think she has a very good chance of getting black type in the Bronte Stakes. This has been the plan since her Goodwood run.
Frankie’s Dream (3.50) has won five times in 2025 already and loves the 7f trip – he should go well for the Jennie Candlish team. He scores over this trip last month at Doncaster on similar ground and continues to improve.
Ralph’s Cape Breton (4.25) is probably my best chance of a winner and looks open to much further improvement after just four career starts. He ran an excellent second on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot – again when his string just needed to get a run into them – and can hopefully defy a 4lb higher mark.
Weekend Preview: Nottingham Rides
There’s question marks over plenty of Sunday’s rides, including Ed Dunlop’s Zaraquelle (1.55) who has yet to place on five career starts. Nevertheless, she showed plenty on her seasonal debut at Wolverhampton, and a reappearance of that could see her go close on the turf. Stablemate Clever Jack (2.25) has first-time headgear on another similar fact-finding mission after disappointing on seasonal debut last month at Yarmouth. He was last of 12 when probably in need of the run that day and, with two further pounds off at the weights, should improve with the cobwebs blown off.
The Newland/Insole team have enjoyed a couple of juvenile winners already this season, so I’m keen to sit on Flash Rascal (3.30) in the 5f. He has a speedy pedigree, and could surprise some of his more expensive rivals. Galaxy Zoo (4.00) disappointed when stepped up to six furlongs last time out at Doncaster, but I had previously won on him over the minimum trip and think he should bounce back now over 5f. The family is all about speed and I wouldn’t write her off just yet.
Michael Keady’s Curumbin (4.30) is a consistent sort who will appreciate the drop back in trip to 1m 6f after getting out-paced at Kempton over two miles. He looks over-priced at double figures. It’s always a thrill to ride the royal silks and I’m hoping it’s ‘Hat’s off for The King’ aboard Treasure (5.00) in the Fillies’ Handicap over a mile.
She was thrown into the deep end after a winning debut as a 2yo; finishing 4th in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and down the field at Epsom thereafter. She has lumps of weight to concede but is the class horse in the race and can get her head back in front now handicapping from a mark of 97. The close of a marathon day sees me sit aboard Drumstick (5.30) in the Mile Handicap. Ignore the last run in an Apprentice Handicap that looked a bit messy. He’s better than that and can hopefully settle better with the application of a first-time hood.
By Hector Crouch
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