Veteran Richard Hills confident he can reign supreme at Royal Ascot

King Richard: Richard Hills, in winning action at Newbury, heads to Ascot this week with arguably the best book of rides in his 30-year career
Simon Milham13 April 2012

Paddy Power are offering 20-1 that the Queen wears a black hat for the first day of Royal Ascot tomorrow. You can also back Richard Hills to be the top jockey over the five days at the same price - and there's no doubt which is the better bet.

At 46, Hills heads to the Berkshire track with arguably the best book of rides in his 30-year riding career. He has never been fashionable with punters but his durability is in contrast to his popularity and he has carved out a career that many envy.

He has won every English Classic bar the Derby, his CV is full of international successes and, of those currently riding, with 23 victories he has recorded more wins at the Royal meeting than Frankie Dettori, Johnny Murtagh and Kieren Fallon.

Much of his success is owed to his long-standing retainer with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and while critics feel another rider would have done better with the talented horses he has to ride, you don't keep top jobs in racing without an owner's confidence in your ability.

"I know I've been very lucky," said Hills, whose strike-rate was an impressive 24 per cent last season. "I'm heading to Ascot with 18 rides and I've got great chances in plenty of races. John Gosden's Maqaasid, the filly in the Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday, is one of my best rides.

"She won her maiden at Sandown in good style and her dam is closely related to 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati. She's a good filly and I'd be pretty hopeful.

"Elzaam also has a big chance in the Coventry Stakes tomorrow. He's also had one run and he won nicely at York in what looked a good race. He's very professional and knows his job."

Hills is renowned as a tremendous judge of pace, particularly when riding from the front. But he is likely to give Mawatheeq a more patient, stalking ride in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday.

The Marcus Tregoning-trained five-year-old missed the Dubai World Cup through injury and Hills is hopeful that he will show the sparkle that saw him win the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot last September.

"He ran a good race after that when just touched off in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket," said Hills. "He's been out for a while with injury but he worked great last week and he's developed into a proper horse.

"It would be a surprise if he wins but he should run well and there is the King George to look forward to with him."

Hills partners Akmal for John Dunlop in Thursday's Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup but admits he does not know if the two and a half-mile trip will suit.

"What I do know is that he's a horse who's got guts," said Hills. "He showed that when putting his head down to win the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month and he's in great form."

Hills rode two winners at the Royal meeting last year, with Ghanaati scoring in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes for his father, trainer Barry Hills, and Fareer winning the Britannia Handicap for Ed Dunlop.

The Jarvis-trained Alainmaar, who has won twice this season and who has only been beaten once in five career starts - on his debut last August - holds strong claims in Saturday's Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, while Ouqba, winner of last season's Jersey Stakes, has "an each-way chance" in tomorrow's Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Hills said: "I'd love to be the top jockey at the Royal meeting. It is such a big meeting for Sheikh Hamdan - everything is geared to it - and though I've been runner-up on two occasions, winning it would mean the world to me.

"I see I'm 20-1 and it would be nice to think the bookies have got it wrong, wouldn't it?"

Top Jockey (Paddy Power odds): 2-1 R Moore, 11-4 R Hughes, 4 J Murtagh, 12 F Dettori, 14 K Fallon, 20 R Hills, W Buick.

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