Richard Hannon: “Billesdon Brook is in the form of her life. I couldn’t be happier with her”

SATURDAY

05:15 – ROSEHILL – G1 GOLDEN EAGLE STAKES

Beat Le Bon (Pat Dobbs)

He has travelled over really well, better than we thought, in fact, and Wayne (Kavanagh) is really pleased with him. This is a big test but we’ve always thought a great deal of him and to be honest I still think there is improvement to come. He was unsuited by the small field in the Celebration Mile last time but if you go back to his victory in the Unibet Golden Mile the big field and good pace really suited him, and in a field this size Dobbsy should be able to settle him in behind from stall 15 and hold him up for as long as he dares before coming come with a late run and hopefully snatching the prize last minute! Obviously races don’t always go to plan but Dobbsy knows the horse well and has a great record on him so there is every reason to be confident of a bold show. We don’t know a great deal about the opposition but I know how good our horse is and this is a massive prize so we’d be mad not to have a go.

8:54 – SANTA ANITA – G1 BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF

Billesdon Brook (Sean Levey)

She has been an absolute star for us and all of her owners and I was delighted to see her win the G1 Sun Chariot last time when she beat the re-opposing Iridessa, so hopefully we’ve got at least her covered! The ground is described as firm, but she won the Guineas on Good to Firm so she shouldn’t have a problem with the surface and stall 4 is fine. She’s only raced twice beyond a mile but this is a tight track and there will be plenty of emphasis on speed, which she has. It’s the Breeders’ Cup and one can never be massively confident but everything has gone right and she’s in it to give it her best shot. She’s in the form of her life and I couldn’t be happier with her.

We’ve got a handful of runners at Newmarket on Saturday and Fox Champion would probably be our biggest chance in the Listed race at 3:45. We’ve given him a little break since running at Goodwood, where he wasn’t beaten far, and the return to a mile will be in his favour. He does have a penalty to shoulder but is a big strong horse and I can see him running a massive race. Exhibit and Current both make their debuts in the Novice Stakes at 11:45 and are ready to go although the latter would probably be slightly more forward. Little Downs is a well bred filly who will also hopefully put up a decent show in the 12:20.