It's sure to be an emotional evening for Richard Hughes at his beloved Windsor with the Champion Jockey riding at the tack for the final time ahead of his impending retirement after this week's meeting at Glorious Goodwood. Hughes has a full compliment of rides this evening and can land the opener aboard Nisser (5.55) for trainer Hughie Morrison. The selection failed to build on an excellent third on debut when fourth last time out at Ascot however those two runs look head an shoulders above his four rivals and can score at the third time of asking.
Hughes celebrated a double on the corresponding card last term, including winning the 6f Fillies' Handicap aboard Jeremy Noseda's Mia San Triple, and whilst his mount on the hat-trick seeking Paint The Star is respected after excellent wins at Lingfield and Pontefract respectively she is overlooked for the Clive Cox's unexposed Quite a Story (7.00) at the foot of the weights. The selection built on the promise shown on debut at Bath scoring on her second start when turning over odds-on favourite Petit Trianon over course and distance earlier this month and should be competitive from an opening mark of 70.
Should Hughes indeed scribe his own script then his last ride at the track aboard Gary Moore's Shalianzi would surely be destined for the winners' enclosure however the gelding's well-being is taken on trust considering he was last seen being pulled-up over hurdles in the spring and he is overlooked for last time out winner Oskar Denarius (8.35) under Pat Dobbs. The selection was well-backed when opening his account at Chepstow in May and despite a 6lb rise at the weights, looks value for plenty more. The front two pulled well clear the last day and Marcus Tregoning's charge can continue his upward curve and brush aside of his exposed rivals in the finale.
There's further summer jumping action from Newton Abbot where Tim Vaughan's Lamool (2.15) is a confident selection to follow-up last month's Aintree success under a penalty in the opener. Richard Johnson partnered the gelding to success on Merseyside last month and is in the plate aboard the 8-y-o once more in what appears on paper a relatively straightforward task.
Seven go to post for the feature handicap hurdle over the extended two and a quarter miles and whilst Ittirad is respected after his comfortable success last time out, he appears vulnerable at the head of the weights. The Bloomfields charge bids to concede upwards of 17lb to all bar Ballyglasheen and as such Low Key (3.45) is chanced for the in-form David Pipe yard. The selection hasn't been seen since an excellent third behind Port Melon in a Maiden Hurdle at Taunton in the spring, when the market indicated there would be other days for the gelding. He boasts an excellent record fresh and with further improvement likely now sent handicapping he is chanced to give the jolly a race of it under the excellent Tom Scudamore.
Dermot Weld has dominated proceedings at the Galway Festival for many a year and the Master of Rosewell House looks a certainty to be Champion Trainer once more as the week-long festival kicks-off across the Irish Sea this evening. Weld saddles likely favourite Zafayan in the curtain raiser with former champion jockey Davey Russell taking the leg-up aboard the 4-y-o however it is the combination's charge in the race after that appeals further withDefining Year (5.45) a fascinating runner in the handicap hurdle over the minimum trip. The well-bred son of Hawk Wing has offered little in three starts over timber thus far however looks to have been laid out for this evening's engagement and should prove much better than his initial rating of 109 suggests.
Weld boasts a tremendous record in the 7f Maiden and, despite running into a smart one of Ballydoyle's last year, the stable can reclaim honours with True Solitaire (6.15) under Pat Smullen. The well-bred colt was a beaten favourite last month on debut, finishing second at Gowran Park when failing to see out an extended mile, however should relish both today's drop back in trip and forecast quicker ground. The son of Oasis Dream is a confident selection to make it second time lucky at the likely expense of Aidan O'Brien's well-bred pair of Johannes Vermeer and Unicorn.
Tony Martin and Stephen Clements teamed-up to land the 2m Handicap last term with Quick Jack, one of three successes for the animal at the corresponding meeting twelve months back, and connections can land another nice pot with Ted Veale (6.50). The selection hasn't been sighted on the flat since disappointing in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh in October however since has plied his trade with aplomb over both hurdles and fences; now rated 144 over timber after an excellent second when last seen at Killarney in May. The race looks to have been the 8-y-o's long term target and is taken to win this en-route to a tilt at the Galway Hurdle later on in the week.
