Northern Thunder
There was plenty of action for Richard Hannon on the weekend prior to Glorious Goodwood. With runners up and down the country Richard managed to grab a double on Friday and a treble on Saturday. These victories also put the winning tally above a century with the team heading full steam ahead into next week.
EQTIRAAN was the first winner on Friday at Ascot, the son of Helmet was very green on debut but managed to overcome this and win going away. BOYCIE was the other horse who won down at Chepstow under Kieran O’Neill for Valerie Hubbard and Ken Ivory. ‘Kieran is in flying form at the moment and was again seen to advantage here on Boycie. He added to his victory at Lingfield earlier in the year and still seems in great order, there may still be another race in him this year.’
There looked to be some nice horses in on Saturday and it only took two races before the first winner came up. Ridden by Tom Marquand at Chester over five furlongs, NORTHERN THUNDER got his head in front in the Novice Stakes. ‘He has been running well and looks to have really appreciated the drop back to five furlongs. He is a tough horse who takes his racing well and I can see him continuing his winning ways.’ At the same track WAR GLORY was coming off the back of a nice winner first up at Chelmsford. He was right there until late on in the piece to hold on for second.
FAST AND HOT was the second winner of the day at Lingfield under Kieran O’Neill. The Derek and Jean Clee owned gelding was having his second run back after a lay off and seemed to really appreciate the step up to a mile and a quarter. ‘I put the cheekpieces on for the first time and they really seemed to have the desired effect. He travelled well and let down nicely under another fine ride from Kieran. After that he should be winning more races slightly up in grade.’
The final winner came under Megan Nicholls in the Seven Furlong Handicap on OWER FLY. He won first up on heavy ground at Windsor and was here now at Salisbury winning over seven furlongs on Good to Firm ground. ‘He seems very versatile and it was nice for Megan to ride another winner for us. He has been working well recently so I was confident I had him back to his best.’
Other runners on the day included MUTAWATHEB at Ascot, owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, who ran well in the Listed Winkfield Stakes, finishing fourth only beaten ½ length. KESSELRING ran second in the Mile and a Half handicap later on in the day and looks a horse who will appreciate further again in time. At Newmarket, BAHAARAH ran second beaten a short head having run again second the week before at Newbury. DUBAIS SECRET was another to finish second and continues his good run of form this year.