Brian Hughes’ blog 24/08/2023: Three good chances at Stratford
It was good to get back up and running at the weekend after a break from the saddle and to have already ridden four winners since Saturday is great.
Every winner during the summer really helps in the jockeys’ championship race, so I’ll be doing all I can to keep up with Sean Bowen. He’s a good few victories ahead, but I’m hoping to claw back a few on him. I’m off to Stratford on Thursday for three rides, all of which hold competitive chances.
Stratford, Thursday
My first ride is Presentandcounting (2.40pm) who has been a consistent horse for myself, Donald [McCain], and the Turner family.
He was a good winner last time out, but it was a fairly weak race. The handicapper has only put him up three pounds for the run, so he obviously didn’t think it was a great race either.
He has won at Stratford before in a novice chase two years ago and he should be going there with every chance. There will be a few that keep him honest on the front end, which could end up setting it up for last year’s winner La Domaniale, but he’s going there in great shape.
Next, I’ll be on Long Call (3.50pm) for Tony Carroll. I haven’t ridden this horse before, but he was a good winner last time out at Bangor-On-Dee when I finished third on a horse of Donald’s. He obviously looks like he has every chance and hopefully, he can go out there and show it.
Finally, we have a horse running in the bumper called Luna Breeze (5.00pm).
She finished fourth last time out on slow-enough ground, which probably wouldn’t have suited her greatly, but she still ran well. The winner was good that day, but the rest of us were quite close between second and fourth.
The second has since come out and won, so the form looks good. She has had a bit of time since her last run which would be a positive and trainer Rae Guest has had three bumper winners in the last month or so.
She is related to a Group 2 winner on the Flat, so hopefully, she will take all the beating.
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