The turf season is back with a bang and Hector Crouch is back to talk about Newbury’s Greenham Stakes meeting exclusively with kwiff. Read below for a preview of his weekend rides.
Hector Crouch: Greenham Meeting 2025
It was another mixed week, with just two winners as Billy Loughnane edged one clear in the race for the All Weather Jockeys’ Championship. I rode a couple of nice winners that could be worth keeping on the right side of with Galaxy Zoo making a winning return since switching to Ralph Beckett last weekend and Wolverhampton, and Trad Jazz maintaining her unbeaten record for James Owen earlier in the week at Kempton.
She didn’t beat much, but showed a nice attitude and wasn’t fully wound up for that reappearance – she’ll come on a lot for that. We’ll probably look at an Oaks Trial for her now, and we have high hopes for her. She’s a big girl, and wouldn’t want a tight-ish track, so something like Lingfield may suit her well. I’ve got a good record in the race as well… one winner from one runner and You Got To Me winning en route to Irish Oaks success then at The Curragh.
Hector Crouch: Friday at Newbury
Breckenbourgh (14:27)
I’m very grateful that Andrew Balding, being the gentleman trainer that he is, has me on the Valmont-owned Breckenbrough (14:27) in the 7f Maiden Stakes. She boasts a nice pedigree and has apparently been working well at home. She has been well backed after being put up by a couple of people to follow this season, so we’ll just see how she gets on.
Moon Over Miami (16:10)
He’s a good moving horse, so I’m looking forward to seeing how Moon Over Miami (16:10) on better ground in the 2m Handicap. He was pegged as a soft ground animal from winning with cut in the ground at the start of last season – largely by default after winning on in the spring. I’m still confident he is a very good horse, so fingers crossed we can get him back on track. It looks a tough race, with some good horses. I won on Charging Thunder for the James Owen yard last time out, and he looks the biggest danger from a 5lb higher mark.
Hector Crouch: Saturday at Newbury
Feigning Madness (13:25)
Feigning Madness (1.25) is another who we thought a lot of this time last year, winning twice before disappointing in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom. He was sold by Valmont at the sales, but bought back by Ralph and found new owners. He ran better than the bare result when down the field in the St Simon Stakes here over course and distance and he still maintains a lot of ability. He shouldn’t be a 33/1 shot.
Hector Crouch: Guineas Trials
I rode Bright Times Ahead when she made a winning debut last season at Newmarket, and she should go well in The Fred Darling Stakes over seven furlongs. The yard boast a good record in the race and it will be fascinating to see how she gets on, now running on better ground. I was close to riding Ed Walker’s Noble Champion in The Greenham Stakes, but Kieran Shoemark gets the nod. I sat on him when he shed the maiden tag Lingfield back in November and looks a nice prospect.
Beagle Bay (15:45)
Valmont have two in the Mile Maiden with Spanish Train a nice prospect for Paul and Ollie Cole, and Beagle Bay (15:45) running for the Ralph Beckett team. He’s a well-bred son of New Bay and related to some nice horses.
Whatcombe (16:19)
ANother Valmont horse, and another for the Coles with Whatcombe (16:19) expected to come on from a good second towards the back end of last season. He disappointed on debut at Goodwood but bounced back on soft ground at Salisbury in first-time blinkers. He wears a tongue-tie for the first time but is apparently in good form at home. Fingers crossed he can make it third time lucky.
Hector Crouch: Sunday at Musselburgh
Sunday sees me make a rare trip up to Scotland for two at Musselburgh. I ride Between Me and U (3.45) in the opener, and Sportingsilvermine (5.15) in the Mile and a Half Handicap – and the latter probably my best chance of the two. He made a winning debut for the James Owen yard last time out at Southwell, and that form has been franked already. I’d be very hopefully that he could defy a 2lb rise at the weights, now stepping up in trip.
By Hector Crouch
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