Hector Crouch sits down with kwiff after finally reaching his century of winners for the calendar year 2024, with a view to hitting the ground running for 2025.
Hector Crouch: Century Achieved (101*)
It was good to finally get the 100 up after a bit of a frustrating final few days of the year. I hit the crossbar with a good few rides at Lingfield and Wolverhampton and then had Profitman chucked out on what would have been my 100th winner. It won by a nose, and was than chucked out by the stewards’ – rather harshly if I’m being honest, too.
The 100th came thanks to Almosh’her for trainer Charlie Fellowes, and completed a double aboard Gold Aura later on the card. Those were my last winners, so I’m itching to get started and kick 2025 off with a bang. December was a record-breaking month for me with 18 winners, which I can hopefully better at some stage this year.
Weekend Rides: Lingfield (Friday 3rd January 2025)
Hector Crouch Rides: Princess Mia (11:45)
My first ride on Friday is Princess Mia in the opening Maiden over a mile. She’s got a few lengths to make up on the odds-on favourite (Princess PW) from her debut last month at Wolverhampton but boasts a nice profile and should progress from her debut.
Hector Crouch Rides: Mrs Dowley (12:15)
I thought the William Haggas-trained horse Seconds Count would be popular, but the market suggests she may need the run. Jiff’s Army sets the standard and we’ll need to be rated 75+ to win this but Mrs Dowley is back from a short break after two promising efforts in November and can hopefully make it third time lucky for the in-form yard of Michael Bell.
Hector Crouch Rides: Damascus Steel (13:15)
Damascus Steel has a good record over a mile and a half, winning at Kempton and Newcastle last season, and is now just 2lb above his last winning mark. The Ed Dunlop string remain in good nick and he looks over-priced at around the 12/1 mark.
Hector Crouch Rides: Havana Sky (13:45)
His stablemate looks to have a great chance of completing the six-timer with Havana Sky in the form of his life at present. I rode him in the gloom over Christmas at Wolverhampton and he can hopefully continue the winning run stepping up in trip to seven furlongs.
Hector Crouch: Overnight Oats (14:15)
He disappointed in the gloom last week at Wolverhampton, but you can put a line through that effort. He pulled too hard over a mile and a quarter, and never got home in a slowly run race. I still have a lot of faith in him, and he should be much better suited dropping back to 7f. He’s up 17lb since the beginning of that winning run but is progressing nicely and I still think he’s open to further improvement still.
Hector Crouch: Gordon Grey (14:45)
I doubt many would be running here today having previously ran in a Fakenham Maiden Hurdle last time out but Gordon Grey reverts back to the level and has a bit to find in the mile and a quarter handicap for the Ben Brookhouse team.
Hector Crouch: Broker Charlie (15:15)
Broker Charlie is another nice horse for familiar connections, with this gelded son of Lope de Vega a nice type that I’ve already sat on at home. He’s related to a couple of winners and gave me a nice feel in the week. It looks a warm race with some stoutly-bred types from the yards of Gosden, Crisford and Appleby yards and a good place to start on his first day at school.
Hector Crouch: Gold Aura (15:45)
Gold Aura was the second leg of my double when I rode my 100th winner last week at Southwell, and gave us a good feel that day. He won going away that day over a mile and a half, and think he can follow-up stepping up in trip to two miles under a penalty.
Weekend Rides: Southwell (Saturday 4th January 2025)
Hector Crouch: Tenyatta (15:22)
Tenyatta hated the headgear last time out, and has to have things her own way. She can be a bit of a tricky ride but is a genuine and consistent type who should be getting her head in front sooner rather than later.
Hector Crouch: Misty Sky (16:35)
Misty Sky is a horse I like a lot and carries the famous silks of Deva Racing, whom I have ridden plenty of winners for over the winter. She ran a good race last time out on the all-weather when third in a Wolverhampton nursery and is entitled to improve. She looks a nice filly and I expect her to go close for the Hugo Palmer yard.
Hector Crouch: Moon Over Miami (17:05)
Moon Over Miami is a horse I like a lot and hope he can make a winning debut handicapping from an opening mark of 91. He won a couple of novice events earlier in the season and then had to miss the majority of the summer due to a little bit of a setback. I think he could be a very nice horse and would be disappointed if his unbeaten record was to go here.
Hector Crouch: Many a Star (18:35)
After a good third last time out, I think Many A Star has been given a chance by the handicapper to end a winless run that extends back to last April. He’s been dropped a pound for that effort and from a good draw, he should go close now down to 3lb below his last winning mark.
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