Last year's GI Canadian International winner Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid) has his work cut out as he reappears under a seven-pound penalty in Thursday's G3 Betway Huxley S. at Chester. Second to Maverick Wave (Elusive Quality) in this 12 months ago, Saeed Suhail's 5-year-old was last seen finishing 11th after a troubled trip in the G1 Hong Kong Vase in December. “It's going to be tough for him first time out giving seven pounds away to them all,” the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond commented. “He's ready for a run, but he did need his run in this last season. I think he's probably better over a mile and a half these days, but [trainer] Sir Michael [Stoute] wants to get him out, and the ground will be fine for him. He's working well, but he might just need it [the run].”
Robin Geffen and Rachel Hood's Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) was second attempting to win back-to-back editions of the G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown Apr. 22, but that was his first run since finishing third in the G1 Eclipse S. there in July, and he sets the standard on these weight terms.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
