Hughes expects improvement from Canford Richard Hughes expects Canford Cliffs to be all the better for his seasonal debut in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. He is looking forward to riding last summer's Coventry Stakes winner in the Group Three heat over seven furlongs ahead of next month's stanjames.com 2000 Guineas. "I made no secret of how good I thought he was. I'm very hopeful, he's going well and I'm very happy with him," he said. "He's not working the place down by any means but he's exactly where we want him at the moment. "He's a big horse to ride now, he's grown, he's taller and he's furnished well. He's going well, but whatever he does on Saturday it will definitely bring him on." Canford Cliffs has not raced since suffering a shock defeat in the Prix Morny when third to Arcano, who could reoppose at the weekend. "I was amazed he was placed to be honest - after a furlong I wasn't that happy," the jockey told At The Races. "I didn't think he was ever going that well. He finished placed because he's very good, but I didn't think he sparked that day. "We know how good he is so we were a bit disappointed that he didn't run up to his true form. At halfway I didn't think he'd win anything."
