Title hunt on hold as de Sousa joins Melbourne chase

The Brazilian rider, four winners behind Paul Hanagan, partners Johnston’s Royal Ascot hero Fox Hunt in tomorrow’s ‘race that stops Australia’ – one of four Yorkshire horses bidding to become the first ever British winner of the prestigious handicap.

Thirsk-based de Sousa is suspended today and intends to then fly through the night in order to ride at both Nottingham and Kempton on Wednesday.

“He’s challenging for the title and didn’t really want to come and ride the horse as he’s only four behind now, but I pointed out to him that all his winners in Europe would not even add up to the value of this one race,” said Middleham-based Johnston.

“I wanted him to ride the horse, as he’s perfect for him. He can do light weights, but is as strong as an ox. Silvestre was champion apprentice in Brazil and is a relatively new kid on the block. I noticed him last season when he rode 100 winners for mainly small trainers, often on horses at long odds.

“Joe Fanning was injured, and he started riding a few more for me. He’s a very, very confident jockey and you wouldn’t be afraid to take him anywhere.”

Neil Callan rides Johnston’s other entry, Jukebox Jury, while Malton-based Brian Ellison will use Melbourne-based riders on Ebor winner Moyenne Corniche and Saptapadi after both made the 24-runner cut for the two-mile handicap that starts at 4am UK time. “I believe I’ve got them spot on. I honestly believe I’ve got a massive chance,” he said.

At least Ellison is certain his jockeys are in Australia after the airline Qantas grounded its planes in a long-running union dispute. St Leger-winning jockey William Buick was delayed overnight in Hong Kong as he travelled to Melbourne to ride Godolphin’s well-fancied Goodwood Cup runner-up Lost In The Moment.

BOTH Silvestre de Sousa and Paul Hanagan fell foul of the controversial new whip rules on Saturday, though their respective five-day suspensions do not come into force until after Saturday’s Flat finale at Doncaster.

BOTTOM weight Mr Moonshine, owned and trained at Bingley by Sue Smith, was an emphatic 16-length winner of the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle yesterday under in-form Henry Oliver.

Smith’s husband Harvey said: “He’s a very nice horse – a proper Saturday horse. We’ve given him just one run over fences before today but he was always going to make a really nice chaser. I think we’ll go for a nice novice race next.”

Ferdy Murphy’s Cheltenham winner Divers was pulled up when tailed off, though next month’s Paddy Power Cup is the main target.