Richard Hannon: “The form of Pinatubo’s debut is strong but our colt is in great form”

EPSOM – FRIDAY

2:00 Woodcote Stakes

Oh Purple Reign (Sean Levey)

We’ve got a good record in the Woodcote and have won it with some decent horses down the years including Baitha Alga who went on to win the Norfolk so we tend to run our more precocious two years olds here. He’s all about speed and being by Sir Prancealot, who was very quick, the fast track will be right up his street and I think he has improved since his debut win at Nottingham. The form of Pinatubo’s winning debut at Wolverhampton has worked out very well, so he looks the one to beat, but our colt is in great form and I think he’ll go very close.

2:35 Investec Mile

Wahash (Sean Levey)

He was second in the seven furlong Handicap here a couple of years ago so he’ll have no worries with the track and his form this season has been pretty consistent, albeit just finishing out of the prize money. Strangely enough, he’s unlucky not to have won on turf but he’s posted some good efforts and seems best when the ground is on the quick side so hopefully the rain stays away. It’s a competitive race but he’s in great form at home I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finish in the money.

5:15 Surrey Stakes

Urban Icon (Tom Marquand)

I don’t think he was disgraced in the Qipco 2000 Guineas but he’ll be much happier down to this grade and his last couple of pieces of work have been excellent. He shows quite a lot of pace so the drop to seven furlongs on a track like this will really play to his strengths and I fancy him to run a huge race.

️ @SimonHolt3 Jim McGrath @RichardHoiles

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5:50 Handicap

War Glory (Sean Levey)

He’s a model of consistent and you could almost set your watch by him! I think he’s probably better with a bit of cut but ran a cracker on fast ground at Sandown last week so perhaps he’s more versatile than we originally thought. Obviously we’ve done very little with him at home since last week so he should be nicely freshened up and he’s sure to run another solid race.