Toormore in preparation at home
The weather has finally started to settle down and with what looks like a solid card at Sandown today the ground has come up good to soft. Richard Hannon sends out five runners with the headline act of TOORMORE making his reappearance in the BET365 Mile.
The day kicks off with the Esher Cup where CHIEF WHIP takes his place. He was a convincing winner of a maiden back at Sandown at the end of last year over seven furlongs. ‘He looks to have improved over the winter into a lovely three year old. We had him in at Newmarket last week but with his new mark this looked a better opportunity to kick off his campaign. He has been working very well at home; he’s a horse we think plenty of. With Ryan in the saddle I expect a bold showing’ commented Richard.
With VENTURA STORM not running in the Classic Trial, PALAWAN is left as the stables sole representative. ‘On paper he has plenty to do but I have been happy with his progress since his last run. He was running home nicely at Lingfield, just getting tired late. This is his first time at this trip and in what looks a competitive field we will have to see how he runs.’
TOORMORE is having his first outing for the year, having finished his last campaign in Hong Kong. He’s had a break over the winter ready for the turf season ahead. ‘He will improve a lot on whatever he does today. He doesn’t do much at home, but we worked him away the other day and he galloped better than he ever has. This is just his prep race with the target being the Lockinge next month.’
In the final race on the card PARIS PROTOCOL and ALTARSHEED run in the mile and a quarter handicap. ‘They are two nice horses who will get better as the season goes on. ALTARSHEED kept staying on the other day at Chelmsford over a mile, so he will appreciate this trip. He is fit and well and should run a nice race. PARIS PROTOCOL was a good winner of a Salisbury maiden at the back end of last year. He has a tall order carrying top weight on his first start back, but I expect him to run to be competitive.’