No Zeb but Hannon reveals strong Newbury hand

Richard Hannon’s Strong Suit will bid to repair his reputation in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The youngster was an impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on his penultimate start but then suffered his first defeat when third in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Hannon had been weighing up whether to run Friday’s Flying Childers winner Zebedee in this weekend’s Group Two but instead looks set to rely on Strong Suit.

“I have spoken to Julie Wood (owner) and we have decided to run Strong Suit rather than Zebedee, who will now wait for the Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot,” the trainer told his website www.richardhannonracing.tv.

“Strong Suit worked brilliantly on the grass up at Everleigh the other morning, and he is now back in the sort of form he was before winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“I blame myself for his defeat in Ireland as I think he went there a bit rusty.

“I remain convinced that Strong Suit is a very good horse and though he will have to carry a penalty in the Mill Reef, we hope the race will put him back on track and prove the ideal confidence-booster.”

Strong Suit features among 12 remaining entries, with Hannon also leaving in Libranno.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained Formosina and Ed McMahon’s Super Sprint winner Temple Meads are other major contenders.