Revoir ridden by Rossa Ryan

Hector Crouch on Epsom Classic rides Revoir and Stanhope Gardens

By Sporting Life

Horse Racing

Thu June 05, 2025 · 7M ago

Hector Crouch is looking forward to a couple of fascinating Classic rides for trainer Ralph Beckett at Epsom this weekend.

First up on Friday he gets the leg-up on Study Of Man filly Revoir in the Betfred Oaks before partnering many people's each-way fancy Stanhope Gardens in the Betfred Derby 24 hours later.

Speaking to Tom Stanley on Thursday's Nick Luck Daily Podcast, he said of Revoir: "I'm really looking forward to riding her. Obviously she's got a fantastic pedigree and she's done nothing wrong in her career so far.

"I was a little bit gutted that she didn't manage to win at Newbury, I thought she deserved to but she just got the message a little bit late. It's an exciting 48 hours to look forward to."

Crouch expects plenty more to come following Revoir's near-miss in the Listed Childwickbury Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes at Newbury last month.

"It's been the same all over the country, it's been a very dry spring and we hadn't had them on the grass as much as we probably would have done in previous year," Crouch said. "Given that was only her second start at Newbury, plus the fact a lot of the horses have been taking a nice step forwards from first to second run, I'm expecting a good step forwards from that.

"She hit the line very strong at Newbury - we went slow and sprinted which wouldn't have suited her and she did very well under the circumstances to get rolling late and nearly get home.

"She takes everything very well, she's uncomplicated from my point of view and doesn't over-race or do anything silly. She's a very chilled out customer. She'll go on anything (ground-wise), she won on heavy and will handle anything."

Delacroix touches off Stanhope Gardens at Newmarket

Stanhope Gardens is another unexposed sort heading into Saturday's Derby, having also had just the one run so far this season. That comeback outing saw him win a small-field conditions race over a mile at Salisbury and Crouch doesn't expect the move up in distance to trouble his mount.

He said: "It's certainly in his pedigree to stay the mile and a half. He travelled very well at Salisbury over a mile. There is only one Derby and there's only one way we're going to find out but I'd be fairly confident he'll stay the trip.

"His two-year-old form is right up there with the head of the Derby market. He has had an unconventional prep into it, that has been well documented, but I was very pleased with Salisbury, we went a good gallop, it was a good time and the thing that impressed me most from a trial perspective was how he hit the line.

"He went through the line strongly, galloped out well and even had a look at himself on the big screen. There was plenty to like about the performance and, a little bit like Revoir, he's a very relaxed customer.

"I think I would prefer it to stay good to soft for the Derby but he handled softer ground when he was second to Delacroix so I don't think it would be a concern."

Beckett also saddles Pride Of Arras in the big one on Saturday and, speaking on a Zoom call hosted by The Jockey Club, the trainer said of his striking Dante Stakes winner: "He has trained well since the Dante and worked well on the grass at home last week. I am happy with the way he is training and the way he looks – I think he has tightened up for the Dante and he is on good terms with himself.

“We are going there with our best foot forward, that’s for sure.

“In the Dante, I thought it was a good effort from Damysus (the runner-up, who also lines up on Saturday) as well. The Dante was a slightly falsely-run race but to say that suited Pride Of Arras more than anybody else is presumptive I think.

"Given his pedigree, he has plenty of his speed and he has more speed than I thought he would have, having trained his dam and brothers and sisters. I never expected him to be as quick as he is, which is a positive as far as we are concerned. He is a very well-balanced horse and his half-sister and half-brother both won around Epsom, so that gives us significant encouragement as well.

“All of that is positive and he is taking his preparation very well. I am looking forward to Saturday. The ground is not an issue – he has a soft ground pedigree and it has been a surprise to us that he handles fast ground as well as he does."

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