Unibet ambassador Richard Hannon talks through all his Saturday runners and looks ahead to Glorious Goodwood

IT'S a busy weekend for us as we send runners to Ascot, Newmarket, York, Chester, Salisbury and Lingfield.

We're also gearing up for Goodwood next week where we hope to have plenty of good chances. But first, here's a run down of my Saturday runners.

ASCOT

1:50 Princess Margaret Stakes G3

Dark Lady (Ryan Moore)

I was very pleased with her debut at Newbury and then she duly went a place better at Lingfield on her next start. This is a step up but she was very impressive that day and Ryan got off her and said she gave him a good feel and that a race like this would be ideal. She’s by Dark Angel so any cut in the ground won’t be an issue but that’s not to say she can’t handle a quicker surface too. Her work has been excellent and we’ve won this race before with the likes of Osaila and Maureen so I expect a big run.

2:25 Handicap

Motakhayyel (Jim Crowley)

He’s gone up 6lbs for winning at Newmarket last time but is a colt on the upgrade and I hope there is still plenty to come. We’ve always liked him and I thought he put in a good piece of work on Wednesday. There’s no reason why he can’t be bang there, but if there is any rain that would be a slight concern as he’d have to prove himself on it.

Kuwait Currency (Sean Levey)

He’s ultimately paying the price for what he achieved as a two-year-old but ran a slightly better race last time at the July course which does at least give me hope that there is still another race in him. Whether it’s today I’m not convinced and on recent form I couldn’t recommend him.

4:15 Listed Winkfield Stakes

Sun Power (Oisin Murphy)

I had a few earmarked for this and it was a case of deciding who would come here and who would go to Goodwood next week so I hope I’ve made the right decision! He ran a great race at Royal Ascot in what looks to be a good Chesham and a reproduction of that effort would give him every chance here. Night Of Thunder is doing well as a stallion and this is a smart colt who has plenty of ability.

Oh Purple Reign (Rossa Ryan)

He did what I expected at York last time and it’s hard to knock anything he’s done as he’s either won or finished second in all five starts. He has a great attitude and is quite battled hardened so if it develops into a scrap, he’ll definitely come out fighting. I think the rise to seven furlongs could see him in a good light and he won’t be far away for sure.

5:20 Handicap

Production (Thore Hammer Hansen)

He’s been in good form this season and won nicely at Redcar on his penultimate start and then ran a solid race last time at Sandown. I think the step up to a mile and a half will help and he’s won around here before. It’s an open race but he’s very consistent and I’m sure his owners will have a great day.

NEWMARKET

2:15 Maiden

Great Fengshui (Fergus Sweeney)

He’s a smart colt who is ready to start somewhere and this looks a good opportunity to get him going. His work has been fine and he’s fit enough to run a decent race but, as with a lot of ours, he’ll improve for the run and will probably be suited by further in time.

Hermano Bello (Seamus Cronin)

He ran very green at Ascot on his debut and was never really at the races but stayed on nicely at the end and he has definitely improved mentally and physically for the experience. Obviously he’s got to step up on that first run, but he’s entitled to and hopefully he can put up a better performance here.

CHESTER

2:00 Median Auction

Ocasio Cortez (John Fahy)

It’s taken her a while to get the hang of things but the penny is finally dropping and she’s developing into a very smart filly. I was delighted with her run in the Weatherbys Super Sprint and a reproduction of that would make her hard to beat here racing from the plum draw in 1.

YORK

3:45 Median Auction

Outtake (Dane O’Neill)

He’s performed with credit on both runs to date and is a colt who has plenty of speed and thrives on his work which is why we’re getting him out again after Chepstow. He’ll probably be more effective once handicapping, and he’ll have a mark after this, but he’s in good shape and this isn’t a big field so he should easily finish in the money.

5:25 Handicap

Come On Leicester (Silvestre de Sousa)

She has come down to a very attractive handicap mark, in fact the lowest she’s ever been, and I think the step back up to seven furlongs will suit as she seemed to get outpaced last time. If there is any rain around, that would also help her chances.

SALISBURY

7:15 Handicap

Posted (Tom Marquand)

She’s a tough little filly who is very consistent and deserves to win a race. I thought she was very unlucky over course and distance last time but we’re into Handicap company now and I think her mark is about right.  There’s not much between any of them but she’s in good form and I’ll be disappointed if she’s not ‘troubling the judge’.

7:45 Novice Stakes

Ritchie Valens (Sean Levey)

I don’t think he was quite focussing on the job in hand so we’ve had him gelded and his work has been very good since. There’s a bit of a mixed bag he’s taking on but his form is more than good enough to win this and to be honest there are no excuses this time!

Goodwood ready…

We should have plenty of runners at the Qatar Goodwood Festival next week including the likes of Threat who may be declared for the Vintage Stakes over 7f on Tuesday.

He is still a horse we think an awful lot of and I’ve been extremely happy with him since the Coventry so go there with high hopes.

Beat Le Bon is a big possible for the Unibet Golden Mile and we’ve also got some nice Al Shaqab two year olds ready to run so keep an eye out for them and make sure you read my Unibet blog every day of the festival.

LINGFIELD

6:00 Handicap

Hermocrates (Rossa Ryan)

He probably did a bit too much at Bath last time on his first run at this distance but still finished his race quite well so I’m pretty sure he stayed the trip. This is a small field and he’s more than capable of making his presence felt and I think he has a massive chance.

6:30 Novice Stakes

Partridge (Rossa Ryan)

She should have won first time out at Salisbury and then bumped into a smart filly at Haydock before running well enough in the Queen Mary. This is obviously a big step down in grade and I’m quite confident that she can finally hey her head in front on ground she will relish.

Claudia Jean (Kieran O’Neill)

She’s been well beaten in both her starts and needs to step up on what she’s shown. Her work is fine though, and I have no doubt she will be winning races but more likely that will be when she’s handicapped and I think we have a much stronger chance with Partridge.

8:30 Handicap

Orliko (Rossa Ryan)

This is his grade and I think this 7 ½ f trip will suit him well as he hasn’t quite looked to stay a mile on occasions so this should be ideal. His form is there for all to see so there’s nothing I can tell you that isn’t already out there. He takes his racing well and is in good form therefore I hope he can run well.

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