'He's seriously special' - Chris Hayes excited about ride on Coventry favourite

Chris Hayes is convinced explosive juvenile Castle Star, favourite for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, is the "real deal", a feeling only enhanced by his impressive performance last weekend at the Curragh.

Betfair and Paddy Power slashed Castle Star into 6-1 (from 14) for the Coventry after he sprinted clear in the closing stages of the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday and Hayes is fizzing with excitement at the prospect of riding him at Royal Ascot, a meeting he is still waiting to open his account at.

Hayes said: "I think he's seriously special and I have thought that from day one. I was both disappointed and disgusted that he got beaten on his first two starts.

"In hindsight, I blame myself for the first day he got beaten and he probably didn't learn enough there so that's why he got beaten the second day too. He's been transformed since then, he's mentally sharper now."

On the impressive Marble Hill win, Hayes added: "I have never taken a pull a furlong out in any race in my life, but I took a pull on him.

"He has lots of natural pace and ability and he feels like the real deal to me. I would say if Fozzy [Stack, trainer] had managed to get him away before he ran first time out he would still be unbeaten now."

Castle Star has an explosive turn of foot but Hayes is not ruling out the prospect of him developing into a 2,000 Guineas contender next year.

Fozzy Stack: trainer of Coventry favourite Castle StarCredit: Patrick McCann

He said: "He's not a one-trick pony. He's not just a sprinter, he will get further. I'm not sure what Fozzy is thinking or where he'll go next with him.

"There is obviously Royal Ascot and I know he'd be a lovely ride in the Railway Stakes and the Phoenix too. All I know is the better the race, the better he will be. He loves having something to aim at."

Another juvenile who could be Royal Ascot bound is Hermana Estrella who won a Group 3 at Naas on her debut and is a general 10-1 shot for the Albany Stakes.

Hayes said: "I know she was 50-1 at Naas but it wasn't a surprise to me as she was one who stuck in my mind from a very early stage. She's a very nice filly and you'd have to be impressed by what she did.

"She was left on her own at Naas but she changed her leads on her own and she won well in the end I thought. She really is a lovely filly and Fozzy has bought really well. There's plenty to look forward to with her."

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