Canford Cliffs to take QEII plunge

Canford Cliffs will return to Ascot next month, with Richard Hannon confirming the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as his next target.

The Tagula colt has emerged as the leading miler this season, shrugging off a disappointing third in the 2000 Guineas to win the Irish equivalent and bag the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting.

He sealed his star status when holding the challenge of Rip Van Winkle in his first clash with older horses in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last week.

Canford Cliffs could now meet that rival again in the September 25 feature after Hannon opted to bypass the Prix Jacques les Marois at Longchamp.

“He looks great and he has shown no ill effects from winning the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, which is hardly surprising as he won so easily,” he told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

“He has already won twice at Ascot – the Coventry and the St James’s Palace Stakes – and the track suits him, so it makes sense to give France a miss and wait for the QEII.”