Bond bids to book Classic ticket

Misu Bond takes his next step towards a possible Classic bid in the banshahousestables.com European Free Handicap at Newmarket tomorrow.

The son of Danehill Dancer rounded off his juvenile campaign with victory in the valuable totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar to earn an entry in the Stan James 2000 Guineas.

Bryan Smart’s charge has not raced beyond six furlongs but the Hambleton trainer is hopeful he will stay the extra distance in the Free Handicap when he will face eight rivals.

“He’s done very well over the winter and he’s in good order,” Smart said.

“I don’t know about the seven furlongs tomorrow but on breeding he should get it.

“We all hope he’s gets the trip from six to seven to a mile but we’ve got to wait and see.

“He’ll improve. He’s in the Guineas and that’s the road we are going down. I hope he develops into a Guineas contender.

“I’d like some juice in the ground for him. Danehill Dancer's want it, generally.

“I’m hoping for a big run but you can never tell.”

The David Nicholls-trained Strike Up The Band will shoulder top weight of 9st 7lb in the Listed contest.

The Molecomb Stakes winner will be ridden by the handler’s son, Adrian, with Kieren Fallon on stable companion Johannes.

Mark Johnston’s Baan is the fourth northern raider in the £28,000 (€40,500) race.

Mick Channon runs BA Foxtrot and Guest Connections while Brian Meehan will be represented by Manston and Advanced goes to post for Roger Charlton.

The line-up is completed by the Michael Stoute-trained Jeremy.

The colt, who will be ridden by Mick Kinane, finished second, beaten by two and a half lengths, to Manston at Doncaster last season but will enjoy a 6lb pull in the weights with his old rival on the Rowley Mile course and is sure to go off one of the favourites.

Smart also had Sir Xaar entered in the Free Handicap but the colt could now run in the Unicorn Asset Management Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday instead.

He is also in the Lane’s End Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury on Saturday but the trainer said: “Sir Xaar is bred to get further but he looked like an out-and-out six-furlong horse last year.

“I might run him in the Craven to see if he gets the mile straight away. If they got rain it would be too soft for him. He’s a fast-ground horse.”

Misu Bond and Sir Xaar are both general 50-1 chances for the 2000 Guineas back at Newmarket on May 6.