Group 1 winning jockey Hector Crouch is back with kwiff to discuss his weekend rides, starting with Day 1 of Newmarket’s July Meeting as well as trips to York and Salisbury. Read his exclusive thoughts in his latest kwiff blog.
Hector Crouch: Big Weekend Rides, July 10th 2025
Newmarket’s July Meeting kicks-off with a bang this afternoon, and I’m looking forward to getting on board Jel Pepper (2.25) in the Group 2 July Stakes. There’s a select but classy field to this year’s renewal with Godolphin’s unbeaten Maximised likely all the rage after his impressive success last month at Epsom.
Nevertheless, Jel Pepper is well worthy of his place in the line-up, and gave me a great feel when scoring on debut last month at Goodwood. I think there’s more to come, it’s just a question of whether he can compete in what looks like a cracker of a race. Fingers crossed he goes close.
My other ride on the card is Parole D’Oro (5.20) for trainer Michael Bell in the closing Mile Handicap. The 3yo was a touch unlucky when short of room in last month’s Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot and beaten just four lengths. He has just five career starts to his name and looks unexposed, with plenty more to come. He should be winning a race like this from an unrevised mark.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: York (Friday)
I am Yorkshire bound on Friday for the G3 Summer Stakes with Rage of Bamby (2.45) a big price to cause an upset for the in-form yard of Jane Chapple-Hyam. The filly hasn’t been at her best as of yet this term, but loves it around here and has the class to bounce back. It would be great to get her some black type, so fingers crossed she can make the frame.
Another filly with a lot of class is Bosa Nova (3.20) who made a winning debut last month at Chepstow. She’s a filly with a nice future and will have hopefully learnt a lot that day. She’s entered in a couple of nice races here at next month’s Ebor Meeting, so hopefully gets her eye in and can follow-up at a later date.
Hector Crouch Weekend Rides: Salisbury (Saturday)
A Bit of Spirit (6.15) should be able to maintain her unbeaten record after an impressive winning debut last month at Newbury. The form of that race has worked out especially well with the second and third winning on their next start, and I’d be disappointed if she couldn’t defy a penalty here.
Stablemate Aspull boasts a nice pedigree, by Invincible Spirit and out of an Exceed and Excel mare and can hopefully go well for the Cox team on debut. The race doesn’t look the strongest on paper, but we’ll see how he gets on.
Hughie Morrison’s Loving Look (7.50) should appreciate the drop back to a mile and a half and can hopefully give weight and a beating to her four rivals. The filly was progressive last season and ran better than the bare result when fourth last time out at Sandown. From an unrevised mark, she has a cracking chance.
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