Classic winning jockey Hector Crouch is back with kwiff ahead of a big fancy in today’s Gp 3 Classic Trial at Sandown. Read his exclusive thoughts ahead of a busy weekend of racing.
Hector Crouch: Classic Clues at Sandown, April 25th 2025
It has been a bit of a quiet time of things, with a lot of Ralph’s still not ready yet, but there was another winner for the James Owen yard midweek and we keep ticking along. Prince of the Seas was a bit unlucky in The Blue Riband Trial in the week at Epsom. I was wanting to ride him a bit handy, but he got bumped leaving the stalls and struggled a bit thereafter. A step up in trip will be in his future, and I think he could bag a nice handicap. Something like The King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot might be right up his street from a mark in the 90s. Let’s see what the handicapper does.
Hector Crouch: Friday Rides at Sandown
There’s a really strong card at Sandown for the Classic Trial and it’s a fact-finding mission for I Am I Said (3.35 Sandown) who will be hoping to give Neil Diamond fans a chance to celebrate accordingly. It’s always something of a question when you go from novice company to Classic Trials but he won his maiden nicely, and seems a nice animal.
It was a bit of a surprise when he made a winning debut last season, and I’ve ridden him a few times at home, and it’s fair to say he doesn’t set the world alight on the gallops, so I’m hoping he just saves his best for when at a racetrack. Interestingly enough, 4 of the 5 runners have won their maidens when ridden handily so we’ll have to see how the race works out. I’ve no trouble letting others take a lead and to sit in behind. Fingers crossed he does it well, and we can think of grander targets thereafter.
Another nice 3yo for Valmont is Sing us a Song bidding to concede weight all round in the 10f Handicap. He scrambled home when shedding the maiden tag at Goodwood, when I was happy to give the one in front a lead and probably gave him too much to do. Nevertheless, he got the job done that day and will have learnt a lot. He’s a well-related cold and is another that will probably want a step up in trip eventually. I’m hoping today’s race will be a strongly run race, which should see Sing us a Song hopefully stretch them out. It’s a fair old hill at Sandown!
Hector Crouch: Saturday Rides at Leicester
Good prize money at Leicester on Saturday, where Majestic Leo (2.35) can hopefully shed the maiden tag in those famous pink, blue and white colours. He built on his debut when too green to really compete at Newbury, to finish third last time out at Lingfield when last seen in November and the form of that race has worked out well. Fingers crossed he can make it third time lucky.
The two runners for the Stone yard both should have good chances if fully tuned-up on their return but my best chance is probably recent winner Knights Gold (3.45) for the Newland/Insole team in the 7f Handicap. He got the job done nicely last time out at Kempton and looks well-handicapped if translating that form to the turf.
Hector Crouch: Sunday Rides at Southwell
I’ve got some nice rides at Southwell on Sunday, including Charging Thunder (6.45) who was a little unlucky when I got up to beat him aboard Moon Over Miami at Newbury. He was clear and looked to get a little bit lonely in front, and we were able to take advantage. I don’t think he wants to be in front too soon, and can hopefully help him get back to winning ways back at Southwell.
Another horse with a good record at the track is Noble Victory (5.45) who should have conditions to suit in the 6f Handicap. I rode him to finish second on debut and he went one better when shedding the maiden tag over at Chelmsford. He looked to be a little unlucky when finishing 4th last time out at Kempton and think he has the ability to be better than an 80-rated handicapper.
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