Richard Hannon: ” Newmarket Maidens are habitually hard but I think she has improved a lot and expect her to go well”

WE decided to take Snow Lantern out of her intended seasonal debut today because the ground is plenty quick enough, and I don’t want to risk jarring her up on her first run of the year which could put her right back. It’s a safe surface but I just don’t want to risk her on anything quicker than she would really like so we’ll have to look at going to Newbury on Sunday instead; although we’d also like a drop of rain to let her run there as well.

NEWMARKET

1:15 Maiden Fillies’

Shalanez (Ryan Moore)

She’s a nice filly who was a little bit unlucky not to win at Wolverhampton in October last time but she’s come back in great form and looking really well. Those two runs would’ve brought her on plenty and I think she’ll be a nice proposition on this ground on the turf. Newmarket Maidens are habitually hard to win but I think she’s improved a lot and expect her to go well.

2:25 Wood Ditton

Caramelised (Sean Levey)

He’s a very smart colt from a nice family which includes Only Royale who won the Yorkshire Oaks twice for Luca Cumani so hopefully this lad will be winning his fair share of races. His work has been good and this looks a very good starting point but I’d be a little bit surprised if he’s quite good enough to win first time out.

Sir Rumi (Rossa Ryan)

He fits very much into the same category as our other runner in the fact that he’s shown more than enough ability at home but we’ve not really pushed the button so he’ll learn plenty from this and I expect him to improve.

NEWBURY – FRIDAY

We’ve got some nice chances at Newbury on Friday including Dingle who has wintered well and could be an exciting prospect this year. He might want the ground a little softer but he’s in good form and will hopefully put up a decent show in the seven furlong Handicap at 2:50. River Alwen is a colt I’ve got a lot of time for and he’s one I’m particularly looking forward to in the Conditions Stakes at 3:25 and Gisburn has shown enough at home to suggest he can go well in the Maiden.

 Click here for Friday's card at Newbury