Hills targeting Hungerford glory

Richard Hills has his fingers crossed he has made the right call by plumping for Ouqba over Finjaan in the CGA Hungerford Stakes at Newbury tomorrow.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s retained jockey has twice got it wrong in races concerning Ouqba, including when the two met in last season’s Betfair Cup at Goodwood.

“I had to pick between the two and I’ve got it wrong before,” Hills exclaimed.

“In the Jersey Stakes last year I picked a horse called Infiraad and Ouqba won. Then I picked Ouqba in the Betfair Cup at Goodwood and Finjaan won.

“We’re putting a pair of blinkers on Ouqba as we just felt he’s been saving a little bit.

“I understand he went very well in them the other morning so I’m hoping he runs a very good race.

“He ran a cracking race in the Lockinge (second to Paco Boy) earlier in the year so if he can do the same again, we’ve got a big chance and seven furlongs is his ideal trip.

“It was a disappointing run from Finjaan at Goodwood, for what ever reason, where as Ouqba hasn’t done a lot wrong this year.”