Racing: Hughes out to divide and conquer

Richard Hughes has his fingers crossed the field splits into two groups for the Betfred Cambridgeshire at Newmarket today.

The title-chasing jockey is happy with his mount Chil The Kite’s draw in stall one. All he wants now is for the 35 runners to diverge during the race. Hughes said: “I’d rather be drawn one than in the middle. I’d hate to be drawn there and have to decide whether to go left or right - either way, you are left on the outside.

“In an ideal scenario I’d like horses drawn 15 to one to go far side, then I’d have a brilliant draw.”

Although Hughes has not ridden the Hughie Morrison-trained three-year-old before, he believes the lightly-raced colt, who is vying for favouritism, could be an ideal type for the nine-furlong contest.

When Chil The Kite was a strong-finishing fourth behind Thistle Bird in a Listed race at Haydock three weeks ago, Hughes set a good gallop on the unplaced Rockinante. Hughes said: “Watching him (Chil The Kite) at Haydock, he couldn’t let himself down, but by the finish he was on top of them. There was a strong pace that day when I made the running. It was a true test of a mile and it looked like he needed further.”

Hughes also had the plum ride on Maureen in the Jaguar Cars Cheveley Park Stakes, and connections report the talented filly to have benefited from a two-month absence from the track ahead of her run. The Richard Hannon-trained filly, who is towards the head of the betting for next year’s 1000 Guineas, was last seen winning the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot in late July.

“It was probably a blessing in disguise that Maureen missed the Lowther (at York last month) as she has really thrived for the break and has even grown a little as well as thickening out in all the right places,” said the Herridge handler. “She looks to have improved again since she won the Princess Margaret at Ascot two months ago, and we could not be happier with her.”

Meanwhile, an apparent last-minute rush by trainers looking for racing opportunities means Musselburgh now has an eight-race card at its Royal Regiment of Scotland Family Day tomorrow.

Racing now starts at 1.30pm with the Royal Regiment of Scotland Handicap over 1m 5f split in to two divisions and trainer Jim Goldie has an excellent chance of winning both of them. Goldie’s jockey Graham Lee could nick the first of a double on Hawdyerwheesht, a winner at Musselburgh’s last meeting, but it is pitched against interesting opposition with Sir Mark Prescott sending up The Baronet and David Barron fielding Sohcahtoa. The second division at 4.45pm is a wide open affair but the Goldie trained Jonny Delta has dropped back in distance for the first time and is favoured.

The £13,000 Royal Scots EBF Fillies’ Handicap (3.35pm) is the most valuable race of the afternoon and appears to be at the mercy of David O’Meara and his top stable jockey Danny Tudhope. The Malton trainer, who was double-handed at the five-day entry stage, relies on Miss Ellamy who made all the running over a distance of 10f at Ripon last time out to account for the useful Lady Loch by a comfortable margin.

SELECTIONS

Newmarket

1.55 Al Waab

2.25 Maureen (nap)

3.00 Elusive Kate

3.40 Bronze Angel

4.15 Fleeting Smile

4.50 Johnny Castle

5.25 Enery

Chester

2.20 Society Pearl

2.50 Chasing Dreams

3.30 Big Note

4.05 Livery

4.40 Miss Cap Estel

5.15 News Show

5.45 Key Ambition

Haydock

2.05 Hollowina

2.35 Mon Brav

3.15 Face The Problem

3.50 Dancing Primo

4.25 Suraj

5.00 Ennistown

5.35 Sam Sharp

Wolverhampton

5.50 Crimea

6.20 No Plan B

6.50 Saskia’s Dream

7.20 Wild Sauce

7.50 Angelito

8.20 Always Eager

8.50 Dance For Livvy

9.20 Saharia

Market Rasen

1.40 Pasture Bay

2.10 Absinthe

2.40 Kauto Relko

3.20 Bally Gunner

3.55 Dalmo

4.30 No No Charlie

5.05 Great Roar

Double

Maureen

2:25 Newmarket

Sam Sharp

5:35 Haydock

TOMORROW

Musselburgh

1.30 Mason Hindmarsh

2.00 Star Request

2.30 Funding Deficit

3.00 Chookie Avon

3.35 No Poppy

4.10 Dark Ruler

4.45 Ukrainian

5.15 Mission Impossible

Epsom

2.15 Sanjuro

2.40 Janoub Nibras

3.20 Benzanno (nap)

3.55 Resurge

4.30 Kings Troop

5.00 Sunpass

5.30 Myboyalfie

Double

Benzanno

3:25 Epsom

Mason Hindmarsh

1:30 Musselburgh