Hannon youngster given Gimcrack aim
Impressive Newmarket winner Casual Glimpse has been supplemented for the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes at York on Wednesday.
Richard Hannon’s youngster is taking a big step up in class from conditions company to a Group Two but Barry Simpson, racing manager for the owner Sir Robert Ogden, is hopeful he will be up to the task.
“I think Richard is very pleased with his progress. It is a step up for him and it’s a calculated risk that we’re taking, but it’s a race we think could be within his capabilities,” said Simpson.
“We really left it up to Richard to make the decision and there aren’t really a lot of other opportunities for him.
“We took on board what Ryan Moore said after riding him at Newmarket and he felt that the horse was ready to be stepped up into much better company.
“One would have liked to have had an intermediate race in between perhaps but we’re dealt with what we’ve got and what we do know is that the horse is in good shape.”
As well as Casual Glimpse, added to the race at a cost of £13,000, Hannon could also saddle Cape To Rio.
Ed McMahon’s Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Temple Meads could put his unbeaten record on the line, while William Haggas is set to saddle Norfolk Stakes winner Approve.
Jeremy Noseda’s Formosina may bid to bounce back to form after disappointing in the Superlative Stakes, Barry Hills has left in Face The Problem and Shropshire while Richard Fahey has entered Sir Reginald and Premier Clarets.
Crown Prosecutor, Dream Ahead and Move In Time also feature among the 17 remaining entries.