Royal Exchange for Somerville Tattersall Stakes
It is a statistic that might have slipped under the radar but, despite some high-profile defeats, Richard Hannon’s two-year-olds still have a 43% strike-rate this season.
As a trainer whose yard is dominated, numerically, by his juvenile division it is no surprise that they account for more than half of the prize money that the Hannon stable has won this year. But the success in Pattern races makes his runners well worth considering when he runs them at that level.
Royal Exchange can already count a Listed race victory in his hat-trick of wins this season and he can now make the next step in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket. The Royal Applause colt looks a progressive type and proved that he can handle give in the ground, which is likely to prove the prevailing surface at Newmarket this week, when he won at Goodwood last month.
The Listed Noel Murless Stakes is likely to be even more of a test of stamina than normal and that should suit Harris Tweed. His three-quarter-length second to Corsica – in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July – is solid form give Corsica’s subsequent placed run in the St Leger, and Harris Tweed put up a powerful, front-running performance to win a handicap at Chester last time when put off a handicap mark of 105.
Harris Tweed is closely matched with Ted Spread on their running in the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month. But Harris Tweed ran well below form in that race and, on adjusted official ratings, has 12lb in hand on that rival who should also be in the shake-up on this ground.
Tangerine Trees was a shock winner at Beverly last time out but he may well be worth a chance in the Listed Newsells Park Stud Golden Bonus Rous Stakes. Bryan Smart put the improvement in form down to running the horse in a visor – something that had not been used for two years – and, while it does not always work with a horse more than once, there could be more improvement to come.
Poplin looks a filly who is capable of showing such progression to win the Weatherbys Nursery. She won her maiden at Goodwood three weeks ago and that form was franked when the third – Umseyat, who was beaten five lengths – won a maiden at Haydock last week.
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