Big weekend for Hughes yard While all eyes will be on the much-hyped Minsk this weekend, and to a lesser extent Magnanimity (first time blinkers) in Saturday's Grade 2s, Simon Gray is another interesting runner from Dessie Hughes' Osborne Lodge yard. He contests the opening maiden hurdle at Naas on Sunday. Hughes said in a stable tour back in December 2009 when Simon Gray was still just a three-year-old, listed to be in the ownership of the trainer: "He was a smart horse for Richard Hannon and he won three for him. Hopefully he'll run over hurdles around Christmas time, but he is a good ground horse. I have been very happy with him and he has settled in well." Now in the ownership of J P McManus, Simon Gray has obviously had his problems in the interim and despite coming off a 984 day break he is worth watching closely in Sunday's Paddy Power Last Man Standing Maiden Hurdle. Boss Croaker didn't do much on his debut under rules 15 days ago but he is highly-regarded and is another to watch here, in a race where the market is going to reveal plenty. (EM)
