Richard Hannon: “Soft ground suits him well and I expect him to be very competitive in a race of this nature”

THE weather has obviously had quite an impact on much of the racing lately and we’ve not run as many as I’d like, but those that have raced have all put up decent performances and I was particularly pleased with Stem who made a very impressive winning debut at Newbury last week. He’s a nice colt going forward and hopefully we’ll have plenty of fun with him as a three-year-old. He won’t run again this year.

Persian Spirit and Too Much Heaven also won on their respective debuts and are both exciting youngsters. Persian Spirit might go to Salisbury on Thursday for the Conditions race and Too Much Heaven will run in the Radley Stakes which is a seven furlong Listed race for two-year-old fillies at Newbury on 26th October.

I’ve been desperate to get a run into Eupator who is a very good colt indeed. I’ve taken him out of Newmarket today because of the going, so we’ll look at Kempton or Salisbury next week where hopefully the ground will be better.

Persica got the job done nicely up at Ayr in the Doonside Cup and has really matured, improved and developed over the season. He’s got an entry in the Champion Stakes and to be honest, at this stage, I’d say he is very much an intended runner. Obviously he’s got to improve a bit but he’s a very good horse and deserves to have a crack.

As most of you know, Haatem won’t run again this season (in the QEII) after a minor issue forced him out of the Prix Jacques Le Marois, but it was nothing serious at all, just a little niggle with his shoulder. He’ll be back next year when there are plenty of options for him including the G2 Mile race at Sandown and the Lockinge.

RIPON

2:10

Cristo (Kevin Stott)

His best run was over a mile, so he’s going back up in trip and is drawn well. The soft ground won’t be a problem, and he has a small each way shout.

 

3:20

Tacarib Bay (Kevin Stott)

He’s hit the crossbar twice this season and wasn’t disgraced at Doncaster last time where he stayed on to the line. Soft ground suits him well and I expect him to be very competitive in a race of this nature.

 

CHELMSFORD

4:50

Fregola (Joe Leavy)

She didn’t get the best of runs last time but is more than capable of winning a race of this nature, and the Handicapper has dropped her another couple of pounds. Joe’s 3lbs claim brings her weight down further so I’d be expecting her to be pretty competitive.

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