3 minute read

Anjaal finished with a rattle under Paul Hanagan to get up in the dying strides of the Portland Place Properties July Stakes at Newmarket.

Heading into this Group Two assignment, the youngster was the least fancied of two runners for the Hannon stable, who had won two of the previous three renewals, at 14-1 and was under pressure from halfway.

Godolphin's Figure Of Speech burst through on the far side of the track and looked set to prevail, but Anjaal really found top gear on meeting the rising ground and thrust home to get up by a neck. Jallota was a head further back in third ahead of favourite Sir John Hawkins in fourth.

Hannon's Brown Sugar and the Richard Fahey-trained Canyari both disappointed.

Assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr said: "We gave him a nice break after his second run when he won at Beverley and he's done very well for it. He looked there like he needs seven furlongs, which will be a big help.

"We'll have to look at the Dewhurst and things like that. We'll definitely step him up to seven furlongs. He was the first off the bridle there."

Anjaal's trainer Richard Hannon also secured a second winner on the afternoon as Montiridge justified odds-on favouritism in the Listed Insure Pink Stubbs Stakes.

Narrowly beaten in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, the 4-7 market-leader dictated affairs from the outset under Richard Hughes and only had to be pushed out to beat the returning Ashdan by two lengths.

Assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr said: "We didn't want to rush him into anything big yet and he has proved today he goes on any ground.

"There are loads of options, we could drop him back to seven furlongs, but we'll just play it by ear."