'I'm on De Sousa at 33-1 to be champion' - trainer Appleby backing Brazilian

Monday: Windsor

Zim Baby returned at 100-30 when winning the 6f handicap under Silvestre de Sousa, who had trainer Mick Appleby thinking of fancier odds.

The rider is no longer retained by King Power Racing, so will have a freelance status this season. That might make him a player in the race to be champion jockey and Appleby certainly hopes that is the case.

He said: "I've always been a big fan of Silvestre and he'll come in for plenty of rides for me this season now he's gone freelance, especially as I've backed him to be champion at 33-1!

"I'll certainly do my best to help him and I think he'll go well."

De Sousa, the title winner in 2015, 2017 and 2018, is a general 10-1 for another crown behind odds-on favourite William Buick and Tom Marquand, who is 4-1.

Attwater on top

Michael Attwater had all bases covered in the 5f handicap so it was no surprise he was involved in the finish, winning the race with Mary Of Modena, who was best suited of his three runners by the rain that fell before racing.

Michael Attwater: 'We ran all three because we were struggling to find opportunities'Credit: Gerry Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The Epsom trainer said: "We had a filly who likes cut in the ground and was proven on it, and we had two horses who wanted good or quicker ground and it's gone her way.

"We ran all three because we were struggling to find opportunities and the ground has come right for one of them. I really like Battle Point, but he's an out-and-out fast-ground horse and Ard Up probably is as well, but when the rain came we knew Mary Of Modena would be suited by it.

"It was probably a good thing we ran all three because we thought yesterday it was going to be good to firm-ish and it's ended up much softer."

That's my Boy

Three-time champion jockey Richard Hughes rode more two-year-old winners at Windsor than anywhere else and was delighted to saddle one in the shape of Michaela's Boy, whose professionalism was to the fore in the 5f novice.

"I might have a couple of better juveniles at home, but for the first one to win is a great start," the Lambourn-based trainer said.

"Most of mine don't win first time out, but if they're good enough they'll win and he was."

Hughes joked he still rode most of his youngsters at home as it was "the only way to find out" about them and added: "I only ran him as a marker and he's not the worst of them - he's really easy and behaves so well."

Owner loves it

Former professional punter Alan Potts was delighted to see Love Dreams land the second division of the mile handicap.

"I'm retired now and didn't particularly fancy him!" the owner joked.

"I don't know where any late money came from. You can take my word - the money was nothing to do with me. As far as I'm concerned my horses run for the prize-money and the pure unadulterated pleasure of it."

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