Richard Hannon

Two-time Group 1 winner Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}-Coplow {GB}, by Manduro {Ger}) has died at the age of seven, according to published reports. The daughter of the placed Coplow is a half-sister to the listed winner Billesdon Bess (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}) and won the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in 2018. Bred by Stowell Hill Partners and raced by Jeanette McCreery, the Richard Hannon trainee won the G3 Prestige S. at two and shocked Newmarket with a 1 3/4-length win in the Guineas at 66-1. Kept in training...

After Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) in the meeting opener on Friday, the sharp and fast juvenile Miami Girl (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) followed suit in gaining a TDN Rising Star tag at Newmarket's Guineas festival on Sunday. A touch tardy from the gates in the five-furlong maiden but soon racing exuberantly on the heels of the leaders, the 5-1 shot was sent to the front approaching the furlong pole and opened up with relish to record a 5 1/2-length verdict over Beautiful Sunrise (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), with 3/4 of...

Fresh off running second in the Mar. 26 G1 Al Quoz Sprint over the Meydan turf in Dubai, Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire})'s connections are considering a start in the G2 Duke Of York S. on May 11 for the 4-year-old filly. The McMurray Family colourbearer won the G3 Hackwood S. last July and ran fourth in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4. She tired to 11th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on Oct. 16 and was third in the G3 1351 Turf...

The McMurray Family's Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who ran third in the 1400-metre G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh on Feb. 26, is pointing to the 1200-metre G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Mar. 26, according to trainer Richard Hannon. A winner of the G3 Hackwood S. last July, the bay filly ran fourth in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4 and tired to 11th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on Oct. 16. Hannon said, "Happy Romance ran a blinder in Riyadh. She...

In the concluding part of the series reflecting on the Queen's long attachment to thoroughbred racing and breeding, John Berry considers the prospect of a royal Derby runner in the year of the Platinum Jubilee The most significant addition to the royal roster of trainers came in the autumn of 1966, when some of that year's yearlings were sent to the West Ilsley stable of Major Dick Hern. This was the start of a wonderful partnership, which in time saw Hern become as synonymous with the royal string as formerly...

This season's G3 Molecomb S. scorer Armor (GB) (No Nay Never-Hestia {Fr}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2022 at Haras de Bouquetot in Normandy. He will stand for €5,000. A €55,000 Arqana October yearling purchase by Al Shaqab Racing, Armor was a debut winner in April for trainer Richard Hannon. He took the Molecomb on his third start in July and was fourth in the G1 Prix Morny before placing in the G2 Flying Childers S. and G1 Middle Park S....

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred 2-year-old colt Razzle Dazzle (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) finished clear of the remainder when a promising debut second over Newmarket July's seven-furlong strip in his Aug. 6 debut last time and stepped forward to claim 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a most taking display in Friday's MansionBet Watch And Bet British EBF Novice S. back over the same course and distance. The Richard Hannon trainee and 10-11 favourite was swiftly into stride, despite jinking right at the break, and gained an immediate lead. In command throughout,...

Shadwell's exciting 2-year-old Ehraz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) may have an excuse for his last-of-five finish in last week's G3 Acomb S. at York after scoping unsatisfactorily after the race. The Richard Hannon-trained Ehraz broke his maiden at second asking at Ascot by 4 1/4 lengths on July 23, but trailed in by 7 1/2 lengths at York behind Highclere's Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). "We've just got to put a line through that; he didn't scope very well," said Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold. "It was too bad to...

Defying a three-pound penalty for his success in the G2 July S., Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) continued Al Shaqab Racing's purple patch with the juveniles in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York. Always perfectly placed behind the pace-setters by Pat Dobbs, the 7-2 second favourite stayed on past Gis a Sub (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) just inside the final furlong en route to a 1 1/4-length success from that long-time leader, with Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) 3/4 of a length behind in third. "He's very...

Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) backed up an Apr. 24 maiden score at Doncaster with a close-up fifth, to the reopposing Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), in Royal Ascot's June 16 Listed Windsor Castle S. and announced his arrival on the juvenile scene with a devastating closing burst to seal an impressive triumph in Wednesday's G3 Markel Molecomb S. at Goodwood. The 6-1 chance was sharply into stride from the stands' side stall and occupied a forward berth in sixth through the early fractions of this five-furlong...

Friday's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket had the look of a vintage renewal and so it proved with the 3-year-olds in charge led by Rockcliffe Stud's 'TDN Rising Star' Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Runner-up to Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the mud in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18, the 6-1 shot was more settled this time buried against the far rail in mid-division with that rival in front on that side. Eased out by Sean Levey inside the final two furlongs, the...

Fresh off a one-length novice win tackling seven furlongs at Newmarket last month, Al Shaqab Racing's Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) emulated his prolific sire (by Acclamation {GB}) in winning Thursday's G2 Tattersalls July S. dropped down to six furlongs back at the town's Summer venue. He had previously annexed a May 13 York maiden and hit the board on soft ground in a May 28 Pontefract conditions heat. The 15-2 chance was sharply into stride and tracked the duelling speedsters Project Dante (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Dig Two (Ire) (Cotai...