Hughes keen on Martyr Ebor claims
Richard Hughes would not swap his ride on Martyr for anything else in tomorrow’s totesport Ebor at York.
Richard Hannon’s five-year-old has found a new lease of life this season, winning three of his last four starts, and carries a 4lb penalty in the showpiece race of the meeting after a laughably easy success at Goodwood.
“I’d be the first one to say I never thought he was an Ebor horse,” admitted Hughes, speaking ahead of the launch of www.lovetheraces.com.
“I’d been riding him over a mile and a half and every time I rode him he was off the bridle half a mile out.
“Then when I rode him at Goodwood I was able to take a pull on him half a mile out, he absolutely loved that.
“It was the first time he was able to gallop within himself at Goodwood and even though he was placed at Ascot twice he had bad draws and I had to really use him up to get a position.
“He’s as tough as a lion and has a good draw (four) as you can ride him up in the first three and he stays.
“He’s got everything you need in a horse to win the Ebor, he just needs good ground.
“I’m happy, I wouldn’t swap him.”
Overturn has been one of the revelations of the season, following up his win in the Northumberland Plate with an even more impressive performance in the Galway Hurdle.
“We’ve not really got anything to lose,” said trainer Donald McCain.
“I’m a little bit conscious we’ve kept him quite busy, but he seems to be thriving on his racing.
“We’re lucky that we’ve got a very sporting owner and we will probably have a break and then go jumping in the autumn.
“He’s in tremendous nick and there seems to be a bit left in the locker.
“I’d be thrilled if he continued to improve over hurdles. I see he’s 159 now and that means he’s championship class.
“When he’s out and he’s rolling along and enjoying his job he’s a very tough horse to pass.
“A lot of very talented horses haven’t got the heart he has, and that counts for a lot.”
Brian Meehan's Dangerous Midge will carry top weight after missing an intended run in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury on Saturday when the rain came.
He had looked a much-improved animal on his last start, streaking away by eight lengths in the usually competitive Old Newton Cup at Haydock.
“He was meant to run on Saturday but the ground came up too soft,” said Meehan.
“As an alternative, I am looking forward to running him in the Ebor. He is consistent and can win.”
Alan King’s The Betchworth Kid was only beaten two lengths in seventh 12 months ago and races off just a 3lb higher mark.
Owner Henry Ponsonby said: “Obviously we need luck in running and he might have 3lb too much, but I think The Betchworth Kid is a terrific each-way bet.
“He was only beaten a couple of lengths last year, having still been plum last of the 19 runners at the furlong-pole.
“He was checked three times up the straight but flew home in the last 100 yards, and Hayley Turner, who rides again, is adamant that without those traffic problems she would have won.
“This does not look as strong a race as it was last year, and we are all very hopeful.
“The Betchworth Kid had a great summer break after his stint hurdling and he was not tuned-up at Goodwood, but it was imperative that he had a prep-race before York and Alan was delighted with his performance.
“He has come on a lot for that run and we just need the rub of the green, but he is a horse who has to be dropped out and I always have my angina tablets handy when he runs,” he told www.alankingracing.co.uk.
