Hughes Holds Ascot Aces

Henry Cecil´s resurgence has been one of the highlights of the Flat season so far, with the master handler helped in a major way by the loyalty of owner Prince Khalid Abdullah.

And that partnership head off to next week´s Royal Ascot meeting holding realistic chances of hitting the headlines once more.

Walking Talking runs in the King George V Stakes, Tranquil Tiger in the Hampton Court Stakes, and Sound Of Nature in either the Royal Hunt Cup or the Wolferton Stakes.

All will be partnered by Abdullah´s retained rider Richard Hughes, who looks a fair shout to be crowned leading rider at Bet365´s 16-1.

Hughes is also likely to pick up some nice rides for Richard Hannon and Mick Channon, including Youmzain in the Hardwicke, so it is not difficult to envisage him having a good week.

He is unlikely to take much of a hand in Wednesday´s featured Prince Of Wales´s Stakes though, a race in which Andre Fabre´s Manduro is expected to shine.

Having elected to bypass the Queen Anne Stakes, one could assume Fabre believes his runner is better suited by the 10-furlong trip of the Prince Of Wales´s.

Alternatively, connections may simply not have fancied taking on George Washington over a mile when Aidan O´Brien´s star makes his eagerly-awaited return.

Whichever way you choose to look at it, the presence of Manduro certainly adds extra lustre to an already compelling renewal of the race.

Admittedly, last year´s thrilling finish will take some beating but Manduro finished a highly-creditable third behind Ouija Board that day and would appear to hold sound claims once more.

Aidan O´Brien´s three-time Group One winner Dylan Thomas spearheads the opposition and looks a worthy favourite on the pick of his form.

He appeared to have returned better than ever when winning the Prix Ganay but a surprise defeat at the hands of Notnowcato in the Tattersalls Gold Cup set the alarm bells ringing for punters.

O´Brien suggested he may have been too easy on his star performer in the run-up to the race, but many thought he should still have outclassed his main rival.

Notnowcato is set to reoppose again at the Royal meeting but he has never really struck as a genuine top-notcher, in contrast to the ultra-tough Manduro.

Fabre found him an easy opportunity to get off the mark at Newmarket in April and nobody could begrudge him a first top-level success subsequently achieved in the Prix d´Ispahan.

That may not have been the strongest renewal, but connections know the drill having had a similar type in Shirocco, who Fabre nurtured into a Breeders´ Cup hero on the international stage.

Manduro is equally effective at distances between a mile to 10 furlongs and he handles both quick and testing ground with aplomb.

At the 9-2 generally available, he looks an each-way steal and there is enough value there to take a chance on him beating the favourite.

(C) PA Sport