Hector Crouch was back amongst the winners again in the week and heads to Southwell and Wolverhampton with his weekend rides.. Read his exclusive thoughts for kwiff.
Hector Crouch: Weekend Rides
January has felt like a hell of a long month but there’s light at the end of the tunnel now and, with another 17 winners trousered, we’re nearly a fifth of the way to the century that I achieved last season. Like most of us here in the weighing room, we can’t wait for the turf season to begin and February normally goes quite quickly after the long, dragged out month of January so spring has indeed nearly sprung.
Weekend Rides: Southwell (Friday Jan 31st)
Weekend Rides: Percy Willis (6.00)
Percy Willis is a consistent type who really shouldn’t be as big as 22/1 for the 1m 6f Handicap, especially if he stays. He’s ran well in his last few races up at Newcastle over a mile and a half and think could improve for the step up in trip. I’m going to ride him cold and hope he stays, and see what happens. Regardless, I don’t think he should be the outsider of the field, and I think he has a better chance than the odds reflect.
Weekend Rides: Snapius (7.00)
Snapius is a winner on his penultimate start over hurdles last month in soft ground at Lingfield (Mark of 101 over timber and disappointed bidding to follow-up from 5lb higher mark in heavy ground last week at Leicester.
He’s not won on the level since landing a Claimer for Joseph O’Brien when rated 84 all the way back in 84 but he’s got a nice draw, has got the blinkers on, he’s more than capable. A lot will depends on the horse’s mood, and the money is down for the Ian Williams horse (Zooks) but the yard couldn’t be in better form at present.
Weekend Rides: Lingfield (Sunday Feb 2nd)
Weekend Rides: Forever Proud (1.00)
Forever Proud has been great to me this winter, and has won four times from 12 starts for trainer James Owen – coincidentally I’ve been on board all 4 times. Hopefully we can make that 5 at Lingfield on Sunday. She’s in great form at present and the yard keep doing a great job at placing her in her races. I think she could well go in again stepping back up in trip to a mile.
Weekend Rides: Aced It (1.32)
Aced It hasn’t been seen on a racetrack for 625 days but would be well-handicapped on his old form. I actually won on him a couple of years when scoring at Kempton from a mark of 85. I don’t know too much about his absence, but if he’s raring to go is very well-handicapped from a revised mark of 80.
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