Richard Hughes hopes it's a weekend to savour as he eyes double

Unbeaten: Richard Hughes and Strong Suit travel to the Curragh on Sunday

13 April 2012

Leading jockey Richard Hughes has set his sights on claiming a memorable win double over the weekend.

Hughes is aiming to help the Irish team retain their Shergar Cup crown at Ascot on Saturday and then hopes to win the Group One Phoenix Stakes on board Richard Hannon's Strong Suit at the Curragh the following day.

Hughes, the undisputed king of Glorious Goodwood last week, will skipper Ireland, as he did last year. He will be accompanied by Fran Berry and Pat Smullen and is anxious to lead by example, having taken the Silver Saddle as the top individual points scorer last year.

He said: "The Shergar Cup is a great innovation. It is always fun rubbing shoulders with other top jockeys from all around the world.

"However, the draw is obviously all important. You can only play the cards that you are dealt - in 2008 we had rubbish horses, yet last year we had a fistful of chances and went there full of optimism.

"This year we have a shot and the bookies have us favourites to win again - I like my own Christopher Wren and Emerging Artist, while I can mark Fran's card on how to ride Gene Autry in the last."

Casting his eyes towards Sunday, Hughes said: "Strong Suit is the one that matters most. He is a seriously good horse and already as short as 6-1 favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas.

"I will be disappointed if we don't win. He is unbeaten and got me out of jail in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has improved so much. He is bombproof and, while he would not have the speed of Canford Cliffs, he is a serious tool."

The European team of Christophe Soumillon, Olivier Peslier and Umberto Rispoli could scupper Hughes's hopes. They are set to get off to a flying start in the opening Dash (2.10) with PROHIBIT, who finished third in last week's Stewards Cup at Goodwood, while Peslier can pick up vital place points on Captain Carey, who is rated the best horse in Malcolm Saunders's yard.

Soumillon is fancied to take the Classic (2.45) on SING SWEETLY and, with all his other three runners on the day having each-way claims, could also land the individual award.

Elsewhere, KHOR SHEED can upset likely favourite White Moonstone to win the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket (2.35). Kieren Fallon opted out of the Irish team at Ascot to ride this filly.

There is a cracking Group Three race in prospect at Haydock, the Rose of Lancaster Stakes (2.50). John Gosden's FALLEN IDOL is rated one of the stable's best three-year-old prospects.

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Richard Hughes hopes it's a weekend to savour as he eyes double

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