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...for Apprentice title with Hills. Will be interesting to see how long that remains after Chris Cook's article in The Front Runner today.....
Every time I look at the results lately, Connor Planas has ridden another winner. That's how it was at Newmarket yesterday, even though he only went there for a single ride, a 15-2 shot.
Hafeet Alain, with Planas up for the first time, made all to win a mile handicap on the July Course. "Connor gave him a peach of a ride out in front," said Ed Walker, who is certainly worth impressing if you're a jockey.
That took Planas to a dozen winners since the various title races began on Guineas weekend, early last month. He's joint-fourth among apprentices alongside Saffie Osborne, six behind the joint-leaders, Benoit de la Sayette and Billy Loughnane, one behind Harry Davies.
What makes that all the more impressive is that Planas made a steady start in May, with just three winners, of which one came too early to show up in the table. He's on a 26 per cent strike-rate this month, 32 per cent over the past fortnight, during which time he's ridden winners for eight different trainers.
He is, in short, hot right now. But that shouldn't come as a surprise to Front Runner readers because super-agent Tony Hind told us last June what was going to happen.
"He's a work in progress," Hind said of Planas, "someone I want to keep for next year or the year after. I want him to ride as many horses as he can and just get the experience. I want to send him round tracks, so he gets used to them, because next year I want to go for the apprentice title with him.
"I'm extremely pleased with what I see. He's going to be very good in time."
Given that Hind has masterminded title-winning campaigns for Richard Hughes, Ryan Moore, Jim Crowley and William Buick, his words should come with plenty of authority. We can reasonably hope for Planas to keep his momentum going through the summer.
The interesting thing is that there's a couple of firms taking bets on the apprentice title race, neither of whom seem to have much faith in Planas. Sky Bet have him on 25-1 and I thought that was backable. Then I saw Hill's have him at 66-1.
They're not offering each-way, so Planas would have to win the title and that will naturally be difficult. I think he can beat De la Sayette, who has lost his claim, though obviously he retains powerful connections.
Loughnane has had 15 winners this month and looks the most likely winner to me. Both firms have him as 7-4 second-favourite.
What might help Planas is that he has so much more of his claim left than those in front of him. After 41 career wins, he's still claiming 5lb until he gets to 50 and he'll claim 3lb for the next 45 winners after that.
Loughnane (69 total wins) is down to 3lb and he'll lose that after another 26 winners. Will that be enough to build him a winning lead? We'll see.
I'd say that 66-1 is clearly value, though I don't suppose it's the sort of market where they'll let you have a big bet. Hopefully, Hill's won't immediately get their shears out after reading this. Or maybe they'll show what they think of my judgement and push him out to 100s.
Anyway, Hind tells me he was just too busy to keep Planas on his books, so the young man's rides are now being arranged by Freddy Tylicki, who started as an agent in April. Tylicki is sensible enough to avoid any talk of title bids but he sounds enthused about Planas.
"I've taken on Connor four weeks ago, four weeks which have flown by," Tylicki told the Front Runner yesterday. "He's a guy I haven't had much to do with, so we're only just getting to know each other, but he's done tremendously well. In that short period of time, I think he's already ridden ten winners for us.
"He's very ambitious and hungry as well. He's willing to learn. I have to say, so far I've been very impressed by him, the way he's riding and the way he's communicating with me and with trainers.
"He's been ringing me, texting, asking all sorts of questions. I'm liking this. I'm focused, day in, day out, on what winners I can get him."
Those of you who've been around the game a while will be familiar with the name of Planas's jockey coach. It's Michael Hills, rider of Shaamit, Pentire, Further Flight and many others. He's been retired 11 years now - yikes!
Anyway, Tylicki tells me he's enjoying the agency game, which comes on top of his work in bloodstock and broadcasting. "It gives me great purpose," he says.
He also books rides for Tom Eaves, Harrison Shaw, Jimmy Quinn and Stefano Cherchi. "When I was riding, I was always conscious of wanting an agent that has the time for me. I'd rather have fewer jockeys, so I have the time to do a proper job for them. So I'd like to keep the numbers down and the quality up."
Every time I look at the results lately, Connor Planas has ridden another winner. That's how it was at Newmarket yesterday, even though he only went there for a single ride, a 15-2 shot.
Hafeet Alain, with Planas up for the first time, made all to win a mile handicap on the July Course. "Connor gave him a peach of a ride out in front," said Ed Walker, who is certainly worth impressing if you're a jockey.
That took Planas to a dozen winners since the various title races began on Guineas weekend, early last month. He's joint-fourth among apprentices alongside Saffie Osborne, six behind the joint-leaders, Benoit de la Sayette and Billy Loughnane, one behind Harry Davies.
What makes that all the more impressive is that Planas made a steady start in May, with just three winners, of which one came too early to show up in the table. He's on a 26 per cent strike-rate this month, 32 per cent over the past fortnight, during which time he's ridden winners for eight different trainers.
He is, in short, hot right now. But that shouldn't come as a surprise to Front Runner readers because super-agent Tony Hind told us last June what was going to happen.
"He's a work in progress," Hind said of Planas, "someone I want to keep for next year or the year after. I want him to ride as many horses as he can and just get the experience. I want to send him round tracks, so he gets used to them, because next year I want to go for the apprentice title with him.
"I'm extremely pleased with what I see. He's going to be very good in time."
Given that Hind has masterminded title-winning campaigns for Richard Hughes, Ryan Moore, Jim Crowley and William Buick, his words should come with plenty of authority. We can reasonably hope for Planas to keep his momentum going through the summer.
The interesting thing is that there's a couple of firms taking bets on the apprentice title race, neither of whom seem to have much faith in Planas. Sky Bet have him on 25-1 and I thought that was backable. Then I saw Hill's have him at 66-1.
They're not offering each-way, so Planas would have to win the title and that will naturally be difficult. I think he can beat De la Sayette, who has lost his claim, though obviously he retains powerful connections.
Loughnane has had 15 winners this month and looks the most likely winner to me. Both firms have him as 7-4 second-favourite.
What might help Planas is that he has so much more of his claim left than those in front of him. After 41 career wins, he's still claiming 5lb until he gets to 50 and he'll claim 3lb for the next 45 winners after that.
Loughnane (69 total wins) is down to 3lb and he'll lose that after another 26 winners. Will that be enough to build him a winning lead? We'll see.
I'd say that 66-1 is clearly value, though I don't suppose it's the sort of market where they'll let you have a big bet. Hopefully, Hill's won't immediately get their shears out after reading this. Or maybe they'll show what they think of my judgement and push him out to 100s.
Anyway, Hind tells me he was just too busy to keep Planas on his books, so the young man's rides are now being arranged by Freddy Tylicki, who started as an agent in April. Tylicki is sensible enough to avoid any talk of title bids but he sounds enthused about Planas.
"I've taken on Connor four weeks ago, four weeks which have flown by," Tylicki told the Front Runner yesterday. "He's a guy I haven't had much to do with, so we're only just getting to know each other, but he's done tremendously well. In that short period of time, I think he's already ridden ten winners for us.
"He's very ambitious and hungry as well. He's willing to learn. I have to say, so far I've been very impressed by him, the way he's riding and the way he's communicating with me and with trainers.
"He's been ringing me, texting, asking all sorts of questions. I'm liking this. I'm focused, day in, day out, on what winners I can get him."
Those of you who've been around the game a while will be familiar with the name of Planas's jockey coach. It's Michael Hills, rider of Shaamit, Pentire, Further Flight and many others. He's been retired 11 years now - yikes!
Anyway, Tylicki tells me he's enjoying the agency game, which comes on top of his work in bloodstock and broadcasting. "It gives me great purpose," he says.
He also books rides for Tom Eaves, Harrison Shaw, Jimmy Quinn and Stefano Cherchi. "When I was riding, I was always conscious of wanting an agent that has the time for me. I'd rather have fewer jockeys, so I have the time to do a proper job for them. So I'd like to keep the numbers down and the quality up."
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Think Sparrow will be on .....hes Conors no 1 fan i think.
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His ride on the odds on shots at Redcar last week was diabolical imop. Thought he was winning handy enough and allowed the winner get a head of steam and beat him.
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Planas now 25/1 at Hills. I've not backed him; was just curious on seeing this thread.
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Another one for Connor on Thunder star
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Is that 9 winners from his last 29 rides?
riding well with a 5lb claim in his back ar4e pocket too |
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From the article posted earlier, this line about new agent Tylicki's other clients: "also books rides for Tom Eaves, Harrison Shaw, Jimmy Quinn and Stefano Cherchi"
Championships are often won by the agent as much as (or even more than) the jockey, and that undistinguished stable of journeymen does not inspire confidence. But good luck to CP. Maybe come Champions Day, I'll be regretting not backing him. |
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Hills have him 4th favourite now at 16/1
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Once again gets beaten on a shortie and looked horrendous on it.
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Awful handling there on Band of Joy. Looked clueless and all over the place.
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Ah he is bloody useless. Horses carting away with him the whole time. He's a jockey because he is small, not because he is any good.
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