Hannon aiming for Super seven
Since its inception in 1991, Hannon has plundered the valuable prize on six occasions with the 100-1 victory of Lady Livius in 2005 his latest success.
The draw is usually an issue with such a big field and Hannon appears to have all bases covered.
“With a full field of 25 they are bound to split into two groups, and we have three drawn very low (Monsieur Chevalier, Chocolate Cookie and Reach For the Sky) and two high (Palisades Park and Desert Auction),” said Hannon.
“The general feeling is that the stands side is the place to be, but both If Paradise and Lady Livius won the race for us from the one stall, so it is hard to be dogmatic about the draw.
“Ironically, Richard Hughes has never won the race, but Monsieur Chevalier obviously has the form to put that right.
“He has won four over five furlongs and though he is probably ready for a step up to six, they always go fast which will suit him ideally as he likes to come through horses at the end.
“He got bashed around at Royal Ascot and had sore ribs for a few days, but he is fine now.
“We know that he’ll be scrubbed along to stay with them, but he usually finds plenty in the second half of the race and hopefully it will be the same again here.
“However, I also give the two fillies down the bottom a big shout as they are getting plenty of weight from Monsieur Chevalier.
“The penny dropped late on with Chocolate Cookie at Chepstow and she finished her race in style, and she’ll have learned plenty from that debut.
“Jimmy Quinn only just failed to win the race for us last year on Infamous Angel, and I booked him three weeks ago for Reach For The Sky, who surprised us when winning first time out at Goodwood.
“I was not best pleased when Jimmy rang up on Thursday morning to say he was riding for Henry Cecil at Newmarket, but we have got Adrian McCarthy, and off her light weight Barry Bull’s filly could be a real player.
“She also wants six furlongs, but any more rain could put the emphasis on stamina, and she’ll be staying on at the end.
“Ryan (Moore) rides Palisades Park. He looked good at Windsor and you can forget his run next time at Chepstow as he was all at sea on the ups and downs and hated the track. He is not without a chance.
“Desert Auction is another who probably wants a sixth furlong, and he ran well in a decent nursery at Ascot last week. He’ll be doing his best work at the end,” he told his website, www.richardhannonracing.tv.
Trainer William Haggas is hopeful of a good display from Shamandar, who made a winning debut at Ripon earlier this month and has just 7st 12lb to carry.
“She won a weak race very nicely and she’s got a fly weight so I hope she’ll run well,” said the Newmarket handler.
Pat Morris is disappointed apprentices are not allowed to use their claim in this race.
The trainer has booked Louis-Philippe Beuzelin for the ride on Schoolboy Champ but is annoyed the promising young rider cannot take off his 5lb allowance.
“You can use your claim in a £200,000 handicap, but you can’t use it in this race. I can’t understand it. I think you should be able to claim it in a £200,000 Sales race,” said the Tarporley-based handler.
“He’s a real good lad, a real horseman and he’s not quite the finished article yet.”
Schoolboy Champ won his only race to date when sent off 33-1 at Haydock four weeks ago.
“He could do no more than win they day he won, but he has very ambitious owners so we want to give it a go,” Morris continued.
Weatherbys Super Sprint: Cashmans bet - 3 Monsieur Chevalier, 5 Shamandar, Above Limits, 8 Reignier, 14 Reach For The Sky, Here Now And Why, Red Avalanche, 16 Palisades Park, 20 Bar
