Nap selection to underpin treble chance for jockey Hughes (From York Press)

Nap selection Christingle to underpin treble chance for jockey Richard Hughes

9:40am Monday 1st October 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

Richard Hughes, runner-up to Paul Hanagan in the 2010 jockeys’ championship, looks to have the title firmly in the bag this time around.

And Hughes can reinforce his dominance at the head of the current standings today by completing a treble at Bath on Caterina, Dynamic Duo and Christingle.

The latter is trained by William Haggas, who on Saturday at Newmarket won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes with Rosdhu Queen, a filly who broke her maiden at Ripon and who won the prestigious Lowther Stakes at York’s Ebor Festival in August.

Christingle is not in the same league as Rosdhu Queen, but she has finished in the frame in all her three starts, which gives her an excellent chance of opening her account in the Withy King Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. She carries the nap vote.

Both of Hughes’ other mounts with winning potential are trained by Richard Hannon, the jockey’s principal supporter and a trainer who has enjoyed another outstanding season.

Caterina, a winner last time out, has the ability to follow up in the first division of the BNP Paribas ‘Be Hopeful’ Handicap, while the ultra-consistent Dynamic Duo can lift the second leg.

Also worth noting are debut winner Jebril (2.20), who is fancied to supplement those gains in handicap company despite top weight, and the strong-galloping stayer Sunny Future (5.20), a previous course-and-distance winner.

With Hamilton abandoned today and tomorrow’s Ayr meeting looking doubtful and being subject to a midday inspection today, it seems safer to concentrate on tomorrow’s meeting at Wolverhampton, where the in-form Kieren Fallon has strong claims on nap Strada Facendo in the Racing Post Form With totepool Mobile Handicap.

Trained by Luca Cumani, the three-year-old broke his maiden at Folkestone last time out when winning fluently by four lengths. He looks capable of holding his own in this handicap off a mark of 77, which looks fair.

Few would begrudge Macdillon a winning turn in the totequadpot Handicap over five furlongs.

Stuart Kittow’s sprinter has finished second in four of his last five starts and third in the other. His consistency is there for all to see and he deserves to be rewarded. Liam Keniry has the mount.

Mark Johnston’s horses continue in tremendous heart and Blue Dune may be able to add to the Middleham trainer’s ever-growing tally in the Mirror Punters’ Club Handicap.

Second here and at Brighton on her last two starts, Blue Dune deserves to find a winning opportunity and Silvestre de Sousa has been booked for the mount.

John Gosden, who has inched into the lead over Aidan O’Brien in the trainers’ championship, can complete a first-and-last race double with Ebble (2.00) and Infinitum (4.30).

Both have shown enough ability to be competitive in their chosen targets. Infinitum may have most to fear from David O’Meara’s useful bumper horse Cancery, who shaped well to finish second at Ripon on his Flat debut.

Racing selections

Bath (today) 2.20 Jebril, 2.50 Newsreader, 3.20 Caterina, 3.50 Dynamic Duo, 4.20 Christingle (NAP), 4.50 Spic ‘N’ Span, 5.20 Sunny Future, 5.50 Sushi.

Today’s other meeting: Newton Abbot.

Wolverhampton (tomorrow) 2.00 Ebble, 2.30 Ouzinkie, 3.00 Macdillon, 3.30 Strada Facendo (NAP), 4.00 Blue Dune, 4.30 Infinitum.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Ayr and Sedgefield.