Jockey Hector Crouch is back after big-race success in front of the ITV Cameras last weekend, with rides at Haydock on Friday and Goodwood-bound on Saturday for the Height of Fashion Stakes. Read his unique insight exclusively for kwiff.
Hector Crouch Weekend Preview: Haydock and Goodwood
It was nice to be amongst the winners last weekend, as Song of the Clyde showed a great attitude to land the Canarvon Stakes on Lockinge Day at Newbury. He’s a big, tough horse who did all the hard work himself. Once he gets into a rhythm he made it look pretty smooth out there – and I don’t think it was any fluke given the money was down on the Ballydoyle favourite in second. They clearly thought a lot of the runner-up as he was the antepost favourite for The Commonwealth Cup, so you’d hope that the winner could be Royal Ascot bound next.
Lost Boys was a good winner of the London Gold Cup too – I’d mentioned that he was a really nice horse for trainer David Menusier and proved it in good style. My ride Tierra Del Torro ran really well back in third and should have more to come.
Weekend Preview: Friday at Haydock
It’s something of a mixed bag up at Haydock, but a few of mine should favour the likely soft ground starting with Nochebuena (1.45) – goodnight to those who speak many languages – in the opening Fillies’ Novice Stakes over a mile and a quarter.
She made late headway to finish fourth on debut at Kempton last season, and is bred to appreciate a bit of cut in the ground and the step up in trip. She’s from a nice family and looks the type of filly to do well over middle distances – she should go well id the Appleby pair aren’t quite as good as the market suggests.
Resemblance (2.20) was too green to ever land a blow on debut when it all came too soon for her over the minimum trip at Ascot. She will have learnt at lot that day, and is another to likely improve now stepping up over further.
There’s a good race for the feature Cocked Hat Stakes where the two standout fillies look to be Sky Majesty and Rosy Affair. Our girl Rhyme Dust (2.55) needs to find a stone on those two but goes with a chance, based on the best of her form last season. She was placed at this level on Ayr Gold Cup Day in similar ground and, after blowing the cobwebs away on debut for the yard last month, is entitled to strip fitter for the run.
I was surprised to see The Bookkeeper (3.30) the outsider of four for the 7f Novice Stakes after a pleasing introduction a couple of weeks ago at Salisbury. She was shuffled back early and struggled to land a blow but will do better over further, and is taken to enjoy a bit of cut in the ground.
The market has spoken in favour of Jennie Candish’s Imperial Trooper (4.05) who I felt never looked comfortable earlier this month on The Roodee. He finished last of 15 when failing to handle the track but based on a good third at Redcar on his penultimate start he looks to have a very good chance.
Lavender Gold (4.40) goes for the in-form yard of David Menusier and looks well-handicapped to go close on his belated return. His second at Ffos Las on heavy ground suggests he should relish conditions at Haydock and, after a recent wind op, he looks well-treated from an unrevised mark of 71.
Weekend Preview: Saturday at Goodwood
The Height of Fashion Stakes card is always a good one at Goodwood and this weekend’s action hasn’t disappointed. I’ve got Richie’s Rocket (1.25) who might struggle from the unenviable draw in stall 16 (of 18) in the 7f Handicap. He didn’t look to handle the track last time out at Newmarket but was previously highly touted and might find his groove now handicapping.
Command the Stars (2.00) has a lot to find on the market leaders in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes over 1m 3f but should love the ground and he is worth chancing now stepping up in trip. He was a listed winner in France last season and ran better than the bare result last time out at Chester when left with it all to do when drawn out in the car park.
The feature race is likely to centre around the recent Newmarket winner Earth Shot and the beautifully-bred filly Brilliant Star but On Message (3.10) might be able to nick some black type after a winning reappearance last month at Epsom.
She hit the line strongly that day, and showed she can handle an undulating track, which bodes well for her trip to Goodwood. She should improve for the step up in trip and won’t be inconvenienced by any soft in the ground. She’s a filly going in the right direction.
Kenkelly (3.45) was third – but a distant third at that – on debut behind two really smart fillies on debut at Yarmouth but she will have learnt at lot from being under pressure early and sticking at it. Her pedigree suggests she will be fine with the underfoot conditions and she is entitled to improve.
Charlie Johnston’s Align the Stars has a good record around here and will likely ensure they go a good clip for the 1m 6f Handicap, which should help my lad Moon Over Miami (4.20) who hung badly in The Chester Cup and was never really at home on the track.
He had traffic problems early, so everything went against us that day. This trip should suit him better, and providing they go a good clip he should have excellent claims.
A first-time visor will hopefully help Tie Fighter (4.55) who showed plenty on his return after a lengthy absence and should go well in the closing 5f Handicap. His best form looks to be with cut in the ground, finishing second at Leicester last October when I rode the winner, and he looks well-treated from an ideal draw in stall two.
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