Richard Hughes‘ final appearance at Royal Ascot won’t get the same media coverage as A P McCoy‘s final Cheltenham Festival.
Rightly so, you could argue, ‘Hughsie’ hasn’t been around half as long as A P but he’s a very stylish jockey who has generally made a positive contribution to Flat racing in the UK and I’d hope that there would be some kind of presentation at the royal meeting to mark his imminent retirement.
Hughes, backed up by Richard Hannon‘s powerful stable, is 10/1 with BetVictor and Paddy Power to be leading jockey at Royal Ascot and there could be some value in those odds. He has some excellent rides, especially on day one when he partners Sole Power as Eddie Lynam‘s star sprinter bids for a hat-trick of victories in the King’s Stand Stakes – he’s a best 4/1 with Skybet, Stan James and 888sport. Fun Mac looks to have decent claims in the Ascot Stakes at 41/5 on betdaq while the well-regarded Orvar (a general 7/1) will bid to extend his unbeaten record in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Hughes rides hot favourite Ivawood (a best 13/8 with William Hill, 888sport, Coral and BetVictor) in the opening Jersey Stakes on Wednesday and there are high hopes for royal runner Peacock (4/1 with 888sport) in Thursday’s Tercentary Stakes. Flying filly Tiggy Wiggy is among his rides on Friday and is an 11/2 chance with Paddy Power for the new Commonwealth Cup, a 6f sprint for three-year-olds.
Ryan Moore is the hot favourite to be leading jockey, however, at 4/9 with Coral, betfair and betway. He’ll ride all of Coolmore’s leading lights including dual 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles in the St James’s Palace Stakes on the opening day. He’s a general 8/13 for the Group 1 contest with French 2000 Guineas winner Make Believe widely available at 7/2.
A resurgent Frankie Dettori returns to the scene of his greatest triumph and has won both the Epsom Derby and French Oaks in the last couple of weeks. He is a general 8/1 and has some nice rides lined up for retainer Al Shaqab Racing over the next few days. Godolphin jockeys James Doyle and William Buick are both a best 16/1 to be leading jockey at Royal Ascot while Paul Hanagan is 20/1 with Betfred, Stan James and Ladbrokes.
Aidan O’Brien is favourite to top the trainers’ table at 5/2 with Coral, betfair and betway with Richard Hannon at 3/1 with Ladbrokes. Sir Michael Stoute is 9/2 with 888sport, William Hill and betway with John Gosden at 9/1 with Coral.
