Jockey Hector Crouch is back from French excursions for racing slightly closer to home, ahead of two days on The Rowley Mile at Newmarket. Read his exclusive thoughts each and every week with kwiff.
Hector Crouch: Newmarket Preview, Oct 31st 2025
Happy Halloween to all that celebrate! It was a bit of a horror couple of days at Doncaster and then at Saint-Cloud with Spanish Waltz, Valvano and Cape Orator all missing the target, although the latter was far from disgraced in his effort finishing third in the Gp 1 Criterium on Sunday. He remains a nice horse to put away for the winter and look forward to next season.
Cape Orator bumped into a very high class individual with Puerto Rico, who will likely be challenging for classic honours next season, and I don’t think there’s anything I could have done that would have seen us reverse the form with the Aidan O’Brien trained colt. Cape Orator raced a touch keenly in the early stages, which has probably cost him second as a result, but he still remains a nice horse for next season.
Valvano is a bit more of an enigma, and will probably need a Jamie Spencer-esque ride to get his head back in front. I’d love to get another crack on him this season to make amends, otherwise I think we’ll put him away and attempt to come back over course and distance for The Lincoln Handicap in the spring.
In better news, Bay of Brilliance made Monday’s trip to Redcar worthwhile when winning his novice under a penalty. He looks a horse with a bight future. He stepped back in trip to score well on ground quicker than he’d ran on before. He looks a nice horse for connections next season.
Hector Crouch: Friday Rides
I’m at Newmarket both Friday and Saturday, starting with debutant Richie’s Rocket (1.10) in the 7f Novice Stakes. It looks a warm looking race on paper, but he’s worked reasonably well at home albeit a little bit green. He boasts a nice pedigree and fingers crossed he runs well in a deep-looking race.
Gold Star Hero (1.40) has his optimum conditions, running in the 5f Handicap for trainer Michael Bell. He’s ran well around Epsom and LIngfield, and should love it around Newmarket. He’s a consistent type who should go very close. I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t in the frame.
It’s an ultra-competitive renewal of The Bosra Sham Stakes with Spicy Marg (2.12) drawn 8 around most of our market rivals. She would want good ground to put her best foot forward, and has been the model of consistency this season. It looks a great opportunity to get some winning black type after some great efforts in her juvenile campaign, and probably brings the best form of anything in the race. Fingers crossed the rain stays away and we see her in her best light.
It’s a different story for Ed Dunlop’s Kokanee (3.22) who wouldn’t mind a bit of juice in the ground, and remains on an unrevised mark of 75 after a good fourth last time out at Pontefract. They went no pace that day, and he will be suited by the likely strong gallop here at Newmarket. We’ve been getting his trip wrong all year, running him over further, and a strongly run mile over a stiff finish should really play to his strengths.
Bownder (3.57) returns to his last winning mark, when scoring off 66 at Goodwood earlier in the season. She has been struggling as of late, but the handicapper has given her a chance and she won’t mind any rain. She should be there or thereabouts
Hector Crouch: Saturday Rides
Serentta (12.32) is a very exciting newcomer, and couldn’t be better bred for the job. She’s a Kingman half-sister to Arc winner Bluestocking so needless to say there are high hopes for her. The family handles good ground, and doesn’t mind a bit of ease, so it would be nice to see her starting off in a positive way. She will no doubt improve for her first day at school, but nevertheless will still expect her to run well on debut.
Ralph (Beckett) and I teamed up to land the corresponding Montrose Stakes 12 months ago and I’m hoping Pintara (1.07) sees us land back-to-back renewals on Saturday. She made a winning debut earlier in the season at Salisbury on quick ground but is related to plenty that handle a bit of give underfoot. She has been off a little while and it’s a step up in grade but she was impressive on debut and I anticipate her running well.
Stablemate Revelance (2.17) has been steadily progressive this year, and should love the ground at Newmarket on Saturday. She hated it on Wolverhampton’s tapeta surface and hung turning in for home. I don’t see the drop back in trip to a mile posing any issues and think will have the race run to straight from older horses bidding to concede lumps of weight to her. She’s got a great chance.
Okeechobee (3.25) is a high class animal on his day, and was landing the Sir Gordon Richard Stakes just 18 months ago. It looks an ultra-competitive renewal of the Listed Jane Seymour Stakes – notwithstanding Gethin potentially looking very high class – but if our lad puts his best foot forward then ours is the one to beat. It’s a nice spare to pick up and I hope he goes well.
Please note that the information provided in this Hector Crouch: Weekend Preview article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
18+ | BeGambleAware.org
