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UK: Hannon Seeking Fifth Gimcrack Win

3 minute read

Lilbourne Lad will bid to give trainer Richard Hannon a fifth win in the Gimcrack Stakes at York.

The Acclamation colt has been a model of consistency and already has a Group 2success on the board in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh.

"Lilbourne Lad has proved a real star for us and he ran another cracker in the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last time, only feeling the pinch in the last half-furlong," Hannon reported.

"He has the 3lb penalty for winning the Railway, which does not help, but you could set your watch by him as he never lets us down and I am sure that he'll be right there at the finish again."

Caspar Netscher finished third in the Richmond Stakes on his latest start and his trainer Alan McCabe would love to see his consistent two-year-old gain just reward for his efforts.

"He's in good order and Robert Winston came down and rode him last week.

“He comes out second top in some ratings, so let's hope he goes one better than that. He's a very consistent little horse and he deserves to win a big race," said the Newark handler.

The Ed Dunlop-trained Burwaaz was runner-up to Requinto in the Molecomb Stakes over the minimum trip last time, having previously chased Harbour Watch over this distance.

"He's been very consistent, but has kept coming up against one too good for him on the day," said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

"He showed an awful lot of speed at Goodwood. Ed thought it wasn't the strongest-ever Gimcrack so he thought he'd have another go.

"We were disappointed when he got beat by Harbour Watch but judged on what that horse has done since (won the Richmond Stakes), it wasn't a bad run after all."

B Fifty Two has shown he is no slouch winning two of his first three races before running creditably when second in a Group 3 at Deauville.

"I thought the horse did very well last time. Nothing had gone right for him at Newbury on his previous start, so every thing went right the last time and he ran a cracking race," said trainer John Hills.

"A little drop of rain or if the ground stays as it is would be fine.”

William Haggas believes his Oasis Dream colt Justineo is on the upgrade and will not be disgraced.

"I think he's a nice horse and he's going the right way. He's a pretty solid horse," he said.

"I don't know how strong the Gimcrack is this year. It looks OK without being world-class, so we're there and we're going to give it a shot.

“Whether he's good enough or not I don't know, but he's a nice horse."

Brian Meehan feels Diamondhead will also not be out of place as he graduates from maiden company to a Pattern race.

“He has progressed well and is expected to run a big race," Meehan said.