Richard Hughes on Paco Boy

[Posts: 10790Joined: 10 Feb 2003, 15:43Location: Scotland]

I thought that was Paco Boy's best ever effort, by some way.

Very difficult to be sure about all the what-ifs. I thought the filly quickened away from the field and that if Paco Boy (who probably only just gets a mile) had gone with her earlier he may have been first to run out of puff. But that is all conjecture. Fun conjecture though.

[Posts: 1962Joined: 07 Jan 2010, 15:53]

Before anyone starts moaning " Matthews backed a loser,
therefore, it must be a bad ride ".

I actually backed Goldikova and am delighted but anyone
who backed Paco Boy must be livid with Richard Hughes,
shocking ride, terrible.

I backed them both, start of a 2x2 double, so I can be objective I think. Paco Boy was my main fancy but to suggest Richard Hughes cost Paco Boy the race is ludicrous, Goldikova is an amazing mare, whenever she was challaged she'd have had too much for Paco Boy.
I'd go so far to say he'll never beat Goldikova wherever, whenever.

[Posts: 146Joined: 18 Jan 2009, 01:56]

Split second decisions as to whether he got a run. I think Goldikova is a very special mare and she pulled out that bit more when needed.

[Posts: 6247Joined: 06 Mar 2003, 16:25]

I thought that was Paco Boy's best ever effort, by some way.

Hmm. Not so sure about that. Paco Boy have Dream Eater an 8lb beating, just like he did in the Sandown Mile in 2009. Hard to think of many reasons for Dream Eater improving significantly on his old form on his 22nd start and seventh at a mile.

[Posts: 352Joined: 18 Jul 2004, 15:20]

Rory touches on a key point. When they came out of the stalls Paco lit up like a christmas tree. Hughes had no choice but to get him in behind runners. Given the way the field closed up towards the rail he was lucky to get as clear a run as he did. He might have wanted to get going a few strides earlier but I'd bet Peslier would have liked to be towed along into the race by Rip for a lot more strides further. He had to go on on Goldikova plenty soon enough. Those berating Hughes underestimate how long Goldikova was in front on her own. Race didn't pan out 100% perfectly for either horse or jockey (when does it?). Best horse won, imho. Margin suggests -as many suspected - Paco is better this year than last.

[Posts: 1454Joined: 26 Apr 2008, 10:28]

I thought that was Paco Boy's best ever effort, by some way.

Hmm. Not so sure about that. Paco Boy have Dream Eater an 8lb beating, just like he did in the Sandown Mile in 2009. Hard to think of many reasons for Dream Eater improving significantly on his old form on his 22nd start and seventh at a mile.

Agreed. If anything Goldikova has run a fair bit below her best form today.

[Posts: 4677Joined: 12 Mar 2008, 23:07Location: Taunton Somerset]

Sooner Cormack gets rid of you the better, you're just a very negative person Conundrum, I'm quite a bit up today actually.

Get rid of Conundrum? Are you serious?

Kenundrum is a legend, this man has a powerful pen which is mightier than the sword and his quick wit and banter is sharper than a sharks jaws but deep down he's a cute little pussy cat or going by his selections in TRF tipping championships a slower than average tortoise.

As for Richard Hughes ride on Paco Boy I thought he rode a blinder when you break the race down and look at how close he was from winning the race, i agree with Cormack in that it was Paco Boys best performance and with a bit more luck in running Hughes would of ideally been closer to Goldikova but the gaps were tight. What do you think Hughes should of done Matthew01, gone around the lot on the outside?

[Posts: 6533Joined: 21 Oct 2008, 00:37]

Being one of the muppets that fell for the Rip Van hype,i have an unbiased view of the result and anyone that thought Richard Hughes rode a great race on Paco Boy are fooling themselves,he rode just as bad a race on Strong suit but lady luck kept him from losing his trousers,he even had a moment or two on Canford Cliffs that would have had his supporters flapping for a second! As for Olivier Pesliers ride on Goldikova, tender,would be an understatement and had Hughsy not had at least 5 lengths to make up he would have caught the Frenchman napping!

I thought that was Paco Boy's best ever effort, by some way.

Hmm. Not so sure about that. Paco Boy have Dream Eater an 8lb beating, just like he did in the Sandown Mile in 2009. Hard to think of many reasons for Dream Eater improving significantly on his old form on his 22nd start and seventh at a mile.

Agreed. If anything Goldikova has run a fair bit below her best form today.

I'd agree with that, too.
With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, Goldikova has never performed near her best in her early races.

[Posts: 668Joined: 09 Dec 2009, 13:50Location: Londinium]

I thought that was Paco Boy's best ever effort, by some way.

Hmm. Not so sure about that. Paco Boy have Dream Eater an 8lb beating, just like he did in the Sandown Mile in 2009. Hard to think of many reasons for Dream Eater improving significantly on his old form on his 22nd start and seventh at a mile.

Agreed. If anything Goldikova has run a fair bit below her best form today.

Interesting concept - has it never been hinted at before on here...?!

[Posts: 1433Joined: 01 Oct 2007, 01:52Location: Solitary confinement, east London.]

As much as I want to blame Hughes - and I really really do! - I just can't.

Paco didn't break well and then got lit up to boot. He then pulled quite hard for a couple of furlongs, didn't get the only gap he could have possibly got in time and then almost ran down a super mare. If Hughes could have let Paco stride on a bit to sit slightly closer with cover, then I think he would have. Sadly, he had to sit where he was. Hughes would have rightly come in for some serious stick if he let Paco take off with him around the field just to keep tabs on Goldikova. He made the very best best of a bad situation IMO.

To see Paco close down Goldikova the way he did after expending so much energy early on, in what seemed a pretty quick mile was some effort. I also think Goldi was getting tired rather than idling.

I have the Paco Boy of 2010 as the best miler in europe.

OTS
Then, as DJ points out, you'd need to justify the 10lbs or so improvement that Dream Eater has suddenly found - after 2 seasons of running to about the same mark, in his 7th race over the course, his 7th over the distance, and his umpteenth on similar ground.
My money would be on Goldikova not running to her best in either of her races so far this season, a theory that will be tested this afternoon by the running of Byword in the POW.

[Posts: 1750Joined: 02 Feb 2008, 05:06Location: Melbourne, Australia]

Correct me if I am mistaken, but didn't Hughes use the same tactics on Paco Boy in last year's renewal?

He didn't flinch despite Zacinto stinkfacing him. It was a faultless ride and Hughes was in complete control. He produced the same late turn-of-foot and was downed by arguably the best miler of the past 20 years. No shame in that at all.