Hughes lands plum ride

Richard Hughes has landed the plum ride on ante-post favourite Zonergem in the Tote Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on Saturday – his first day back after serving a seven-day ban.

An most impressive winner at Ascot on Sunday, the Lady Herries-trained Zonergem has been backed down to 6-1 favourite with Ladbrokes and William Hill.

Hughes took the Cambridgeshire on Cap Juluca for Roger Charlton in 1995 and comes in for the ride as Jamie Spencer starts a 13-day ban incurred under the totting up procedure.

It was Spencer who steered Zonergem to victory at Ascot on Sunday – a win that ensured that the four-year-old gelding will make the cut for the first leg of the autumn double.

The 7lb penalty he incurred when coming from last to first to lift a 27-runner handicap takes his weight for the nine-furlong cavalry charge to 8st 7lb.

“Zonergem is fine and Richard Hughes rides,” confirmed a spokeswoman for Lady Herries.

Atlantic Ace, who had Zonergem back in third when winning at Goodwood, was reported in fine shape by his trainer Bryan Smart.

“He’s very well in himself. I couldn’t be more pleased with him. He worked very well on Friday and does his final little bit tomorrow,” said the Upper Lambourn trainer.

“The horse is in good nick, I‘m very happy with him and he looks well in himself.”

Paul Eddery takes the ride on the five-year-old gelding at Newmarket for which a total of 74 horses were left in at the confirmation stage but only 35 will be allowed to line-up.

The weights are due to go up 1lb following the withdrawal of Duck Row. James Fanshawe’s Father Thames is now top weight on 9st 10lb with last year’s fourth Smirk, trained by David Elsworth, on 9st 9lb.