Hannon Outlines Ascot Team

Richard Hannon will no doubt be busy opening day of Royal Ascot next Tuesday, but having to saddle runners in three races on one of the world’s most important cards is surely a problem no trainer would mind having.

Hannon will be on his feet from the word go, with last month’s G1 Lockinge S. one-two Night Of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) set to clash again in the meet’s opening race, the G1 Queen Anne S. Hannon will then saddle recent Godolphin acquisition Log Out Island (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G2 Coventry S., and he is also expected to have a runner in the Listed Windsor Castle S. for juveniles.

“The first day will be a massive day–the Coventry, the Queen Anne, the Windsor Castle; It’s a big day for us,” Hannon told At The Races. “In the Queen Anne we’ve got Night Of Thunder and Toormore. That’s going to be a very good race. I would say we’ll have Log Out Island in the Coventry and King Of Rooks [GB] [Acclamation {GB}] will go for the [G2] Norfolk [S. June 18]. We’re not sure about the Windsor Castle yet. Illuminate [Ire] [Zoffany {Ire}] will go for the fillies’ race, the [G3] Albany [S. June 19].”

Hannon is also likely to have a pair of runners for The Queen later in the week; the 2-year-old filly Ring Of Truth (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) in the G2 Queen Mary S. June 17, and progressive 3-year-old Peacock (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) in the G3 Tercentenary S. the following day.