Last weekend’s action came from all over the country. Richard Hannon had runners at several tracks and managed to bag five winners in two days. With just over a week to go untill Glorious Goodwood and the weather turning for the better, things are looking up in what has been a very wet summer.
With only two tracks declaring they had soft ground, Haydock and Hamilton, that’s where the winners came from. GLANCE MY WAY owned by Brian Dolan won the mile and a quarter handicap at Haydock under a confident Kieran O’Neill. ‘He has been knocking on the door a few times and I am very happy he could finally get his head in front. He needs a nice flat galloping track and some give in the going and that’s where he is seen to best affect. Kieran is riding superbly at the moment and is being rewarded with plenty of winners in the last fortnight.’ At the same track, SNAN was taking his turn in a small field over a mile and three quarters. ‘He really appreciates these long trips and does seem a horse who will get better with time. I have put him in a handicap this weekend but I will wait until declaration time before deciding whether to run or not.’
Same day at Hamilton in the valuable Listed Glasgow Stakes, STEEL OF MADRID was withdrawn because of the wet conditions which left the sole representative VENTURA STORM to take the baton. ‘He won convincingly in the end and has really done well having had a mid season break. There are some nice options both here and abroad for him, so I will wait and see where he heads. He definitely seems to appreciate that give in the ground. He won the Fieldon Stakes earlier in the year on similar ground.’
Saturday started with a bang at Newbury when the talented MAJESTE won the first race in good style. ‘I really like this horse and having run a nice second on debut he found the necessary improvement to win this in great style. I will now look for options over seven furlongs, such as the Acomb at York or the Solario at Sandown.’ The Weatherbys Super Sprint had a large field of runners, with 23 heading to post. Richard just had the sole runner in STORMY CLOUDS who having been disappointing at Royal Ascot and Sandown previously seemed to really pick up in first time blinkers. ‘She hasn’t been finishing her races off as well as I would have liked, so I changed her gear around. The blinkers have had the right affect and saw her finish a really good second. She looks like she will get six furlongs now so I will see if she can get some black type.’
At Newmarket in the last SHAAN won well under a good ride from Tom Marquand. ‘She won well at Kempton in January. She has had a few runs and plenty of time and finally seems back to her best. She should continue her progression and can hopefully be a filly to catch some black type with.’
Other notable performers on the weekend included GEORGE WILLIAM at Newmarket on Friday night who ran another cracking race only to get caught close home. BAHAARAH was another who is back to form and ran a nice second at Newbury on Saturday in a competitive Fillies Handicap.