Group 1 winning jockey Hector Crouch is bang amongst the winners at the start of the new flat season, and speaks to kwiff exclusively about this weekend’s rides at Goodwood and Salisbury.
Hector Crouch: Weekend Rides at Goodwood and Salisbury
It’s been a good week with a few nice winners, including Cock and Bull and Jungle Cruise for Michael Bell and Knights Gold, put up as last weekend’s best chance at Leicester, obliging for the Newland/Insole partnership in the 7f Handicap.
Weekend Rides: Friday 2nd May 2025
Weekend Rides: Amiloc (2.00)
Fingers crossed that run continues with some very good chances at Goodwood over the next two days, starting with Amiloc in the John Dunlop Conditions Stakes over a mile. The son of Postponed was a dual winner last season, scoring at first 7f and then a mile at Kempton in pleasing fashion. His work at home has been good, and he should have a good chance if translating his all-weather form onto the turf. Today’s performance will hopefully tell us where to go next with him.
Weekend Rides: Allionsy (3.10)
She’s a good filly, from a smart family and given the connections, will probably improve with age. She racked-up a four-timer last season, winning over different trips, courses and conditions so has already proven to be extremely versatile. A good second at Ascot towards the back end of last season saw her capture some valuable black-type, and her aim now will be to get a win into her at this level. She’s had a wind-op and can hopefully continue to improve at 4.
Weekend Rides: Sixpack (5.10)
Sixpack is an extremely interesting addition by trainer James Owen, that I’m yet to sit on but, looked to have smart form last season in Ireland with former trainer Johnny Murtagh. He finished second behind a horse that went onto win at York’s Ebor meeting, and looks potentially well-handicapped from a mark of 77. He looked in need of the run when down the field on his yard/seasonal debut at Chelmsford and will have improved bundles for. Here’s hoping.
Weekend Rides: Saturday 3rd May 2025
Weekend Rides: Chic Colombine
I’m back at Goodwood again on Saturday and partner Chic Colombine (2.00) in The Conqueror Stakes over a mile. She disappointed against the boys on Lincoln Day at Doncaster in a race that was never run to suit, but I’m adamant she’s better than that. That was her first run for 175+ days and should strip fitter after blowing the cobwebs out.
Weekend Rides: Percy Shelley
New James Owen recruit Percy Shelley (2.40) has a similar profile to new stablemate Sixpack in the sense that he looks potentially well-handicapped on his old form and needed a first run of the season last time out. He tumbled down the weights for former trainer David O’Meara. He will improve for that recent spin around Ripon, and has a good chance stepping up in trip.
Weekend Rides: Valvano
Valvano (3.55) was a horse we thought an awful lot of last season, and ran well in strong handicaps at York and November towards the back end of the season. He finished the season by finishing 5th in The November Handicap on very soft ground, after travelling like a dream throughout.
I lost the faith a bit with him last year, because I thought he had such great chances in admittedly competitive handicaps, when probably disappointing a little. I may have been a little harsh though, with him having a couple of niggles last summer and an interrupted season. He’s come back and worked really well in the week, and gave us a really good feel. He’s still unexposed and could prove better than a 97-rated horse. Fingers crossed he could potentially prove a Royal Ascot horse.
Weekend Rides: Criminal Shore
Criminal Shore (4.33) did well to win a competitive handicap last time out at Ripon when I was in behind on The Outlaw, and a 5lb rise at the weights looks fair. He came well from an unpromising position to get up in the closing stages and looks open to further improvement still after just five career starts.
Weekend Rides: Sunday 4th May 2025
Weekend Rides: Liosa
A trip to Salisbury awaits on Sunday where Liosa (2.30) should have a very good chance in the 5f Handicap for the Stuart Kittow yard. He has been brilliant on the all-weather, winning three times over the winter, and looks to have good claims if translating that form onto the turf.
Weekend Rides: El Matador
El Matador ran a good second on debut behind the ill-fated Falconer last October at Nottingham, and can hopefully go one better in the 7f Maiden. He’s a big horse who may need further than today’s trip but gets 7lb from the Richard Hughes trained Sea Baaeed and looks to have a good chance if fully tuned-up.
Weekend Rides: Bull Run
I’ve been excited to see Bull Run on a racecourse, having missed a couple of engagements already at the start of the season. He’s a beautifully-bred colt, by Sea the Moon out of a French Guineas winner, and has shown plenty of ability at home. He’s another nice, big horse, who looks to hopefully have a big future. He is probably one of my best chances of a winner this weekend.
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