Richard Hughes: 'Ryan Moore felt we should run her in the Abbaye - if you get that advice you have to take it'

Richard Hughes admits to being astounded by the improvement shown by progressive sprinter No Half Measures and is excited about stepping her up to the top level in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Sunday.

The filly finished second on her debut at Wolverhampton in March and gained her first win at Lingfield on her second start. Six months later, she boasts a 6-10 record with her official rating climbing from 73 to 108 and Racing Post Rating from 69 to 112.

No Half Measures gained Longchamp course experience when a close sixth from a double-figure draw in the Prix du Petit Couvert last month before gaining a first Group 3 win in the World Trophy at Newbury six days later under Ryan Moore.

No Half Measures (left): six wins from ten starts since her debut in MarchCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Punters have been putting their faith in No Half Measures, who has been cut to 9-2 second-favourite (from 16) in the past week with Paddy Power. Aesterius, who had been as short as 4-1 favourite, is set to be taken out of the Abbaye on Wednesday in favour of a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Hughes, who is expecting Oisin Murphy to take the ride, said: “She’s come out of her Newbury win really well and hopefully she gets a good draw for the weekend. There’s nothing to lose in having a go, she’s won enough prize-money to pay for her trip over and Ryan [Moore] felt we should run her – if you get that advice you have to take it.

“We’re all astounded by the improvement she has shown. She’s just grown and got stronger with time and has turned into a lovely, big filly. I thought she was in and around a 75-rated filly in the spring but she just keeps amazing us.”

No Half Measures was the only horse from a single-figure draw to finish in the first ten when third in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at Royal Ascot in June and Hughes feels her defeats can be marked up.

“She has been a little bit unlucky, be it in-running in the Scurry Stakes, the low draw at Royal Ascot and the high draw at Longchamp, so she really has done very little wrong,” said Hughes, who intends to run recent 13-length maiden winner Sayidah Dariyan in the Listed Legacy Stakes at Dundalk on Friday.

“The plan was to win the Group 3 at Longchamp then go for the Abbaye, but the rain came at Newbury and we took our chance. She backs up her races very well, does very little at home and is so easy to train. Anyone can ride her and she’s a little darling to have around the place.”

Richard Hughes: says No Half Measures backs up her races so wellCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

No Half Measures provided Hughes with a first Group success and the three-time champion jockey will be bidding for a breakthrough top-level win as a trainer.

Paddy Power spokesperson Paul Binfield said on Monday: “The Abbaye has been a fairly quiet ante-post race but No Half Measures is now a 9-2 chance from 16-1 in the last week and she is an intriguing contender.

“No Half Measures’s price change has been more down to some interesting bets suggesting she’ll be a runner at Longchamp and our own opinion of her chance more than weight of money and the latest price cut from 6-1 reflects Aesterius’s likely non-participation.”

Prix de l’Abbaye (Longchamp, Sunday)

Paddy Power: 7-2 Believing, Bradsell, 9-2 No Half Measures, 8 Aesterius, 10 Relief Rally, 12 Electric Storm, Rogue Lightning, 14 Makarova, 16 Arizona Blaze, Bucanero Fuerte, Englemere, Grand Grey, Kerdos, Leovanni, Purosangue, Starlust, 20 bar

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