Brian Hughes’ blog 30/09/23 – Could do with reeling Sean in this side of Christmas
We’ve had a quiet spell of late so I’m looking forward to things going up a gear over the coming weeks.
It was great to be down at Sedgefield last week to test out the safety of the track. Donald McCain sent a couple of horses and myself and Richard Johnson rode those. Dicky is a great fella and it was good to see him – I could tell he still had the hunger for it! Everything went well in terms of the track and I’m looking forward to riding plenty there next week.
Though I was a good 20 or so back at this stage last season, I’d like to start banging in a few winners to stay in touch in the title race. October will be a very important month and I could definitely do with reeling Sean [Bowen] in this side of Christmas.
Brian Hughes’ blog 30/09/23 – Saturday at Market Rasen
Inkwell (2:14pm) is a big filly. We always liked her at home but she was just a bit weak last year. She never really finished her races off last season, but we still think she could be nice and would just like her to give us a run we can work off. I rode the filly of Twiston-Davies’, Casa No Mento, in the mares’ bumper at Aintree last season, and I know they like her, and then Come On Du Berlais looks the other obvious danger.
Max Of Stars (2:45pm) looks like one of my best chances of a winner on Saturday. I’ve won on her twice and she’s had a good bit of experience over hurdles for a juvenile. She gets an 8lb penalty for winning three hurdles races but gets seven of those back for being a filly, I’m not too worried about that. She’s taking on a few other winners, but their giving their weight, and I know Ollie [Pears] is very happy with her. Hopefully she has every chance.
Presentandcounting (3:55pm) is a grand old boy. The last day was an off day for him and it was a bit of a head-scratcher, but he’s been well enough since. He’s running off 137 which shouldn’t be enough to stop him give he’s won off 10lb higher in the past.
Shuil Donn (5:05pm) looks another solid chance. He was a spare ride when I won on him last time and I wouldn’t swap him for anything else here. He won well the last day and I don’t think the extra distance here will be much of an issue. He’s 10lb higher for that win the last day, so he’ll need to improve again, but that was his first run in over a year so there’s every reason to believe he can. I know the team are happy with him at home too.
My Brother Jack (5:40pm) has lost his way a little bit. You don’t have to go back too far to see he was second to Scriptwriter and second to a horse of Emmet Mullins’ who’s gone onto win a Grade 3, so he certainly showed something at the start of last season. The wheels fell of a little bit and when I last rode him he was well beat on ground that was probably too soft at Musselburgh. He’s made the running a few times, which hasn’t worked out, so we’re going to be a bit more patient with him this time to see if that works.
I’ll be watching the Arc on Sunday and I’ve got something telling me the Ballydoyle horse, Continuous, could be the one to side with. The St Leger wasn’t a massive stamina test – they didn’t go that hard – and he quickened up really well. I know no horse has won the St Leger and the Arc in the same season, but that means nothing to Aidan O’Brien. He and Ryan Moore have broken more records than anyone in racing, so it wouldn’t be a huge shock.
