Tuesday's Meetings Market Rasen N/H 7 Races 1:00-4:30p.m. Taunton N/H 7 Races 1:15-4:45p.m. Southwell(E) A/W 7 Races 5:00-8:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Brian Hughes got to 150 for the season with a fabulous 4-timer at Carlisle and today he has 4 rides at Market Rasen: 1.35 Cool Jet (3/1) - bumper winner for Willie Mullins last season and ran in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham (finished 12th) and one of the big Punchestown bumpers (6th behind Dysart Dynamo). Reported to have bled after disappointing yard debut and, after a wind operation, should be much more competitive here. Chances but the Skelton and Murphy yards have strong looking candidates too. 2.10 The Cincinatti Kid (7/1) - not shown much over hurdles to date and the going, together with the booking of Hughes, are probably about the only positives to note. Gary Moore's horse looks a worthy fav here. 2.45 Schalke (11/2) - not a completely forlorn hope in a pretty open looking contest. Can go close if the step up in trip brings about improvement, despite being up against a number of previous winners. 4.30 Daenerys Stormborn (7/2) - a very low grade Mares Handicap Chase and I suppose someone has to win it, so why not Hughsie? Mind you, on 5 of her previous 13 starts she had an SP of 100/1 or greater. Summary: a tough looking day ahead for him, but if Cool Jet can take the first it might give him some momentum for the other 3 rides. I think he'll be happy with 1 winner form that lot.
I know this won't go down well with many, but Brian Hughes is about the worst champion jockey ever over jumps. He is mediocre at best, and whilst he is dedicated and rides for big northern yards, he also loses on many more horses than he probably should, and he looks very mediocre in a finish. This challenge for getting more and more winners is a major issue to UK racing, and is something I criticise Fergal about too. It should be about quality and not just churn. Of the jumps jockeys riding now, I wouldn't have Brian Hughes in the top 10.
Can't fault him for effort though Nass - he probably realises he is not a Ruby Walsh or Davy Russell and so his mantra is to ride as many winners as possible to become champion jockey.
Is it effort? Or is it just like the chap at work who is ever present and just turns the handle? Here is a quiz question for you... Since 2016, how many Grade 1 rides has Brian Hughes had, and how many winners has he had from those rides? To give a chance, here are a few other UK jockeys in same time - Nico de Boinville 28 from 104 Daryl Jacob 14 from 107 Paddy Brennan 7 from 55 Aidan Coleman 7 from 78 Bryony Frost 6 from 24
Well I know he won the Ascot Chase on Waiting Patiently - that's probably it? 8 subsequent defeats on Waiting Patiently but I'm not sure I'd blame him overly much for any of those. I would guess he has that 1 win from about 50 rides in Grade 1s?
Very good. That one win from 46. The expected wins based on SP is 3.8 for those rides. Celebrating mediocrity is a British NH tendency at present
Since hughes rides for the biggest churn operation ( mccain ) it’s hardly surprising he gets lots of winners , i don’t get the economics of these owners , paying loads for a horse, then plenty more to have it trained , to win a race or three for very small prize money ? Is it just an ego thing , the money is small change , the uk is now centre of money laundering and commercial fraud , enabled by the conservative party .
Its just the way the Championship is run - same on the flat really. Many of the recent champion flat jockeys have been far removed from the masters of the art. It all ties in with the huge amount of poor races being run - lesser jockeys can, if they are willing to do the miles, become champion jockey. If you look at the champion NH jockey in Ireland it has been Townend or Russell or Walsh every year since Geraghty moved to Seven Barrows. Less crap racing for 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) rate jockeys to climb up the league table.
Morning, team. Cor blimey Dusart given a chasing perch of 147. The handicapper has hardly been lenient there, methinks. The Lieutenant may have had to order a large GnT (purely medicinal) to cope with the old shock. Ahoy Senor put up to 157. Latest Pertemps Qualifier at Exeter on Sunday, I see. The above trainer attempts to get Dickie Diver qualified. Currently on 135 and you can get 25/1 for the Final. The Skelton's having another go at getting Riggs qualified but no Streets of Doyen. Good luck all.
14:45 Market Rasen - Storm Of Light (Fame And Fortune gelding, should give a good account with conditions to suit. Quite a consistent sort who usually gives it a good go. Sean Bowen on board for the Olly Murphy yard. 11/2 best price at time of writing, available in four places. Again, e/w the best option as selection should make the podium!)
Some noteworthy scratchings from the Championship races at the festival today: Champion Hurdle: Sharjah, Buveur D'Air, Goshen, Song For Someone, Echoes In Rain, Aspire Tower, Abacadabras, Saint Felicien, Cask Mate. 14 remain entered and Honeysuckle is now best price 1/2 Champ scratched from the Gold Cup, suggesting he is going Stayers Hurdle (Buveur D'Air and Goshen also scratched here)
If Appreciate It doesn't turn up (surely needs to run in next couple of weeks) then Honeysuckle could go off at such short prices. Absolutely bonkers how devoid of hurdlers we are.
In the 15:35 at Taunton a very speculative punt on the rank outsider Pawpaw. If the Showcasing gelding can show a bit of his old form then he might shock the leading contenders in this Handicap Hurdle.. Ciaran Gethings rides for the Paul Webber stable. 40/1 freely-available at time of writing. E/W, of course! (Pawpaw is what Papaya is called in the West African countries (and others too). Always started breakfast with delicious Pawpaw with a good squeeze of lime juice on top!)
He'll either run in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on 19th Feb or go straight to the Champion Hurdle. I'd be looking at my top novice in the yard and thinking the Champion Hurdle might actually be more winnable than the Supreme .................... has a novice ever run in the Champion Hurdle? EDIT: My Mate Mozzie still entered in the Champion Hurdle (the only novice)
Full list of horses scratched from the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday Champion Hurdle (3.30, March 15) Abacadabras Aspire Tower Buveur D'Air Cask Mate Goshen Saint Felicien Sharjah Song For Someone Echoes In Rain Mares’ Hurdle (4.10, March 15) Skyace Clondaw Caitlin Mollys Glory Champion Chase (3.30, March 16) Allaho Notebook Rouge Vif Samcro Ryanair Chase (2.50, March 17) Blackbow Cilaos Emery Defi du Seuil Funambule Sivola Fusil Raffles Midnight Shadow Rouge Vif Samcro Simply The Betts Put The Kettle On Stayers’ Hurdle (3.30, March 17) Aspire Tower Buveur D'Air Goshen McFabulous Mr Adjudicator Santini My Sister Sarah Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30, March 18) Angels Breath Carefully Selected Champ Eklat de Rire Remastered