Richard Hannon: ” I think he has a massive chance in a race that has cut up quite considerably”

NEWMARKET

1:30 Handicap

War Glory (Sean Levey)

His form is there for all to see so there’s nothing I can say that you don’t really know, but he’s been in great shape at home and I thought he ran a fantastic race in the Buckingham Palace Handicap on his first start of the season where he finished much better than his position suggests. The ground is currently good to firm which should be ok, although any rain that does fall will be an added bonus and the Handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds, too.

 

2:05 Handicap

Manigordo (Ryan Moore)

It felt like a lifetime for him to get his head in front but he eventually got the job done in great style at Sandown last time in a race I’d have been disappointed if he wasn’t capable of winning. We’re going into Handicap class now but that win has done his confidence a lot of good and he arrives here in terrific form. He’s a big strong, lovely looking colt who has a lot of class and I think he has a massive chance in a race that has cut up quite considerably.

 

2:40 G3 Criterion Stakes

Yafta (Ryan Moore)

I was delighted with his first run back when he would have needed it badly behind Space Blues (who has subsequently won over in France again since) and he came out of that race in great form. He’s a very uncomplicated horse who just gets on with things and has a great attitude. This is a competitive Group Three but he’s extremely capable and will strip much fitter this time round.

 

3:15 Listed Fairway Stakes

Man Of The Night (Pat Dobbs)

Everyone knows how much time I have for this horse and while he’s probably not delivered on a couple of occasions he is still an extremely good animal and I was particularly pleased with his first run back at Newbury last time when everything that could go wrong did go wrong. He ran with the choke out for much of the way and then found plenty of traffic problems later on so did considerably well to finish where he did, and he’ll definitely improve on that as well. He definitely got the trip that day and hopefully that run will have blown the cobwebs away so I’d be quite hopeful of a very bold show.

 

3:50 Handicap

Nugget (Ryan Moore)

I have a lot of time for this colt who really improved for the step up to a mile last time and looked as though he could be even better for the rise to a mile and a quarter. He’s gone up to a mark of 86 and, at the weights, isn’t well treated with Fruition but I couldn’t be happier with his wellbeing and expect a very good performance. 

NEWCASTLE

 

1:50 G3 Chipchase Stakes

Fox Champion (Silvestre De Sousa)

I can understand why he’s the outsider because his recent efforts have been a little uninspiring and I don’t mind admitting, he needs to step up a bit on recent form so we’re pinning our hopes on the drop back to six furlongs and see if he can enjoy himself again. His home work is still very good and you could argue that he was slightly unlucky in the Royal Hunt Cup so it’s up to him to go out there and prove what he’s capable of.

 

LINGFIELD

 

4:20 Novice

Cliffcake (Rossa Ryan)

He did a little bit too much over 6f at Newmarket last time and the ground was plenty soft enough, but the drop back down to 5f on the all weather will really help and I rate his chance extremely highly. Stall 4 isn’t too bad in a field this size.

 

5:55 Handicap

Mr Tyrrell (Oisin Murphy)

He needed his run badly last time and has come back down to a winning mark so we’ll probably make plenty of use of him over this trip and he would have a solid each way squeak.

 

6:30 Handicap

In The Cove (Rossa Ryan)

He won a handicap off this very mark (over 7f) at the same track last June so does at least have a couple of things in his favour and he wasn’t beaten all that far last time. This doesn’t look a great race and on his best form he should be more than capable of being in the shake up.