show me:

Richard Hannon Hoping Ivawood Proves Superior At Haydock

3 minute read

Richard Hannon expects big things from Ivawood in the betfred.com Superior Mile at Haydock on Saturday.

Ivawood winning the Portland Place Properties July Stakes (Group 2) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The three-year-old Zebedee colt was a late defector from the Supreme Stakes at Goodwood last Sunday after the ground turned soft and has been rerouted to Merseyside in pursuit of Group Three honours.

Ivawood finished third in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, but was a significant disappointment in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He then endured a troublesome passage in the six-and-a-half-furlong Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 9, with Hannon stepping him back up in trip at Haydock.

The Wiltshire-based handler said: "We could not run Ivawood at Goodwood on Sunday because of the ground which was a shame as he was ready to run, which he has been for a while.

"He's in good form and hopefully should run well."

Sovereign Debt has done most of his racing in Ireland this season and makes a first appearance on a British racecourse since the spring.

The David Nicholls-trained six-year-old's last four runs have all been across the water, including a Listed victory in the Celebration Stakes at the Curragh in June.

He was last seen finishing third in the Minstrel Stakes back at the Curragh.

James Kelly, racing manager for owner Lady O'Reilly, said: "We know he's a horse that loves to get his toe in, so we're coming into the part of the year where he should excel.

"His main target in Ireland for the rest of the year is the Tipperary race (Concorde Stakes, October 4) as it's almost always soft ground there and that suits him down to the ground."

Let's Go is the least experienced horse in the line-up, but jockey James Doyle is excited by the prospect of the Saeed bin Suroor-trained gelding running against seasoned Group-race performers.

"He won in breathtaking fashion down at Lingfield and followed that up with another good run at Wolverhampton," said Doyle.

"We then went to Pontefract for a Listed race where it kind of drizzled with rain for quite some time on fast ground and the ground became very loose.

"It is quite ridgy there and he didn't feel like he was letting himself down properly. He is back on decent ground and the track will suit him.

"He is another who we just need to find out where we are with him, whether he is Group horse or a handicapper."

Master Carpenter makes a swift turnaround after finishing last in the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor.

Trainer Rod Millman feels his representative will be much happier reverting to a mile at Haydock.

He said: "Although he got the mile and a quarter at York, he didn't quite get it on soft ground at Windsor.

"There were some good horses in the race and he didn't quite see out the last furlong.

"He has come out of that race fine and a lot of the horses in that race are a much of a muchness on ratings.

"Soft ground over a mile will be fine for him."

Captain Cat won the race 12 months ago, but has largely struggled this term.

He did show a hint of a revival in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood last weekend, though, when fifth behind Kodi Bear.

He will be joined in the Group Three by the Marco Botti-trained duo of Moohaarib and Fanciful Angel.

Moohaarib defeated Hors De Combat by a length and a quarter in a Listed race at Ascot in April and renews rivalry with the James Fanshawe-trained four-year-old.

Last year's runner-up Balty Boys earned connections a nice slice of prize-money at Ascot in July when he finished a head second behind Heaven's Guest in the seven-furlong International Stakes.

Trainer Brian Ellison said: "He finished second in the race last year but he was unlucky as he didn't have a clean run.

"He's improved loads this year and ran great at Ascot.

"He's a better horse over a mile, though, and he goes on all sorts of ground, so it wouldn't bother me if they got more rain up there."