Hughes backs Boy for glory
The four-year-old is three from three at the Berkshire venue and goes there on the back of a comfortable success in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown last month.
Hughes was impressed with that performance, and warned there is further improvement to come from the Desert Style colt, a Group One winner last year. “I’m really looking forward to it and he’s in great form. Hopefully now there are no hiccups and we get a bit of luck in running,” said Hughes.
“He needed the run the last day as we were pretty easy on him after Dubai and he should improve again. We got away with it, really, as he was nowhere near his peak.
“Aqlaam seemed to do pretty well last year, but I’d be pretty confident as my lad has never been beaten at Newbury.
“He won his maiden there, he won the Greenham there and he won the Hungerford there and it’s a nice flat track for him.
“I’d say the ground will be pretty good and we couldn’t ask for better ground. I think he’s better with a bit of cut rather than on the quick side.”
Trainer Richard Hannon added: “Paco Boy is in good form and we’re all set. He could do with a little ease in the ground and we don’t mind the rain, although he wouldn’t want a lot more.”
The Wiltshire handler has a second string to his bow in Major Cadeaux, who will now be ridden by Ryan Moore after his intended mount, Perfect Stride, was withdrawn.
The field could be further reduced if the Khalid Abdullah-owned Twice Over fails to fully recover from a setback. The four-year-old has a corn in his foot and although trainer Henry Cecil is satisfied with the progress he is making, a final decision on his participation will be made this morning.
William Haggas’ Aqlaam will be having his first start since winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last June. The four-year-old sustained a hairline fracture during that victory and connections are eager to see him back in action at Newbury.
Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “He wouldn’t want the ground too bad, but he certainly won’t mind getting his toe in.”
Godolphin won the race last year with Creachadoir and are represented by Alexandros this time, with Frankie Dettori’s mount twice a winner at Nad Al Sheba during the Carnival meeting.
