Hughes shines brightly at Perth with 242-1 four-timer

RACING: As the sun shone on Scone track, Cooking Fat brought jockey’s day to the boil as he added feature race to earlier winners

Sunshine was the order of the day at Perth Racecourse yesterday as Cooking Fat completed a tremendous 242-1 Perth four-timer for Brian Hughes when landing the feature race at the Scone venue.

The 13-8 favourite led on the run-in on his way to seeing off course specialist Kinbree Kid by two lengths in the Horizon Parking Handicap Chase.

Hughes, who had earlier struck on Judge Earle, Nefyn Bay and Strong Team, was unfortunate to have not also won on his only other ride, Petite Ganache, as the combination had just hit the front when coming down at the final flight in the ROA/Racing Post Owners’ Jackpot Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

The race was won by Petite Ganache, led up by Caoimhe O’Hare – a rare Perth winner for Irish trainer Liam Lennon.

Politeness was part of a Rose Dobbin treble at Perth 12 days earlier and he struck again in the Turcan Connell Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

The trainer’s husband, Tony, said: “He’s only small but he’s all heart. He’ll be kept on the go during the summer and we’ve had a good start to the new season.”

Meanwhile, listed honours are up for grabs at Sandown today in the Dragon Stakes, where Well Done Fox gets the vote.

The Acclamation colt was a hot favourite on his Newbury debut in April, suggesting he had shown juvenile king Richard Hannon plenty at home, but he was ultimately held in fifth place.

He let his supporters down again at Salisbury next time, but was only narrowly beaten by Rumble Inthejungle and made no mistake at third time of asking at the same venue.

Well Done Fox looked set to have major say in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot last month until his effort petered out and with that form having already been well advertised, it would be no surprise to see the youngster make his presence felt.

Euginio would not be winning out of turn if he can get his head in front in the Davies Insurance Services Gala Stakes.

The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old has run three fine races in defeat this season, bumping into smart sorts Mirage Dancer and Forest Ranger at Goodwood and Newmarket respectively.

Sent off an unconsidered 33-1 chance, he defied those odds to run Monarchs Glen to a length in the Wolferton Stakes, where first-time blinkers seemingly had a positive effect.

The headgear is retained and a reproduction of that effort will see him there or thereabouts.

Saving Grace is of interest in the Better Value With The Betfair Exchange British EBF Fillies’ Handicap at Doncaster.

The daughter of Mastercraftsman did not cut much ice on her sole juvenile appearance at Nottingham last October, but appeared much improved when making a successful start to the new campaign at Lingfield in May.

There was very little wrong with her third-placed finish at Haydock last month and she enters the handicap arena on Town Moor from what appears a very workable mark of 80.

SELECTIONS:

DONCASTER: 1.30 Mythical Spirit, 2.05 Monsieur Piquer, 2.40 Right Direction, 3.10 Victory Wave, 3.45 Saving Grace, 4.20 Polish, 4.50 Valdizar.

SANDOWN: 1.20 Rio Ronaldo, 1.50 WELL DONE FOX (NAP), 2.25 Canal Rocks, 3.00 King Of Comedy, 3.30 Euginio, 4.05 Melting Dew, 4.40 Saroog, 5.15 Mach One.

DOUBLE: Well Done Fox and Euginio.

Jockey Brian Hughes had a magnificent day at Perth yesterday chalking up a four-timer.