I THOUGHT the bookmakers were a bit premature in pricing Richard Hughes up as favourite to win the jockeys’ championship a couple of days ago as I thought it would go down to the wire. And then I read on Friday morning that Ryan Moore’s final domestic ride could be October 22nd, given international commitments, 17 days before the season ends, which would make it a formality for Hughesy.

I am a big fan of both, and guess I know Ryan a little better, given I saw a fair bit of Ryan when I was starting out and based with his father, Gary. He helped me along the way, and would point out little things that might need correcting. He was also instrumental in getting me work at Satish Seemar’s in Dubai where Ryan was based when he was around the same age.

Ryan should add to his lead today through Good Place in the Hyperion Conditions Stakes at Ascot. I rode her on debut when she was an encouraging second at Newmarket, before she went one better at Lingfield. She’s got some nice entries and can take this before bigger things for Godolphin. She will take all the beating.

I wear the famous blue silks on Hidden Gold in the valuable £150,000 heritage handicap. I saw her run at Pontefract last time, when she was beaten by Rocket Ship, who is pretty highly regarded. She looks a consistent sort who is on an upward curve and could well be in the mix.

I am also on Godolphin’s Free Wheeling in the opening seven-furlong handicap. He was pretty highly-tried in Australia and showed a similar level of form in Dubai when winning at Meydan earlier in the year. He demonstrated he was coming back to form at Thirsk last month, after a pipe-opener in June. These big handicaps can be lotteries, but he looks to have as good a chance as most.

Holley Shiftwell looked to relish dropping back to five furlongs at Newmarket last time, the final race of the season on the July Course, and while this is a step up, I think he will take some catching in the final race of the day, the IJF-sponsored handicap.

I will be keeping an eye on the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, which has a fascinating feel to it, as there are horses, such as Sole Power, Extortionist and Hot Streak, who might be stretched over the six furlongs.

With that in mind, I think Gordon Lord Byron, a five-time winner over six furlongs and successful in this race last year, looks to have rock-solid credentials and was right back to form at the Curragh last time out.

Elm Park’s win in the listed two-year-old race at Salisbury last week may have been slightly undervalued. I was thoroughly impressed and he really ground his rivals into submission. It would be no surprise to see him go very close in a Group 1, possibly the Racing Post Trophy.