RICHARD HUGHES is ready to let stable star Brentford Hope do the talking on the track this summer.
His four-year-old is as short as 6-1 for Saturday’s Unibet Lincoln at Doncaster, the annual curtain-raiser for the Flat season.
But the three-time Champion Jockey turned trainer has warned punters Brentford Hope will come on for his first outing of the campaign.
Hughes said: “There’s always been a lot of talk around this horse, but I’ll try and let the horse do the talking from now on.
“He’s going to run on Saturday, but he’ll come on for it.”
Only Charlie Appleby’s Eastern World and John and Thady Gosden’s Haqeeqy are shorter in the betting, at 3-1 and 7-2.
The latter looks set to be the first runner for father and son under a joint-licence.
Hughes will again have jockey Jamie Spencer to call upon who has partnered the horse on all five of his runs.
Hughes added: “Jamie will ride, he’s always liked the horse.
“But look, he’s gone up another 8lbs for winning what was probably the worst handicap run all season.
“The race should suit him, his last win came over a mile – but it is a case of we’re still learning.
“We won’t want the ground to get too soft on his first start of the year. I know his two wins have come with some cut but I don’t think that’s too important. We’re still learning with that too.”
Meanwhile Group 1-winning jockey Harry Bentley will head to Hong Kong for a three month riding stint from April 16.
Bentley is best known for his partnership with star sprinter Limato
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