'I really do believe he's the real deal' - Hannon excited about Coventry runner

Tuesday: 3.05 Royal Ascot
Coventry Stakes (Group 2) | 6f | 2yo | ITV/Sky

There was once a time when the Richard Hannon yard was famed for early season two-year-olds.

When Richard Hannon snr was in charge at East Everleigh, the yard regularly bettered a 20 per cent strike-rate with juveniles before the month of July and did so ten times from 2000 to 2013, when Hannon snr passed on the licence to Richard Hannon jnr. The yard won this race twice in that period too, with Canford Cliffs scoring in 2009 and Strong Suit winning in 2010.

However, the stable has not won it since and after Hannon took over from his father there was a change in philosophy, with the emphasis switching to bringing youngsters along patiently.

The yard is operating at 16 per cent with juveniles this year and that tells you a lot about the latent talent that their representative, Persian Force, must possess to have won twice already.

His two wins make up almost a fifth of the Hannon stable's two-year-old winners in 2022 and he was sharp enough to make a winning debut in March. In doing so he became the first Hannon-trained juvenile to win in the month of March since Tiggy Wiggy back in 2014.

Tiggy Wiggy was beaten a neck into second in the Queen Mary before going on to win the Group 1 Cheveley Park that season and that gives you an idea of Persian Force's potential.

Aidan O’Brien has been the juvenile king at Ascot in recent years and has nine wins in this, so Blackbeard and Age Of Kings can go well, but do not discount a former two-year-old king.

Paul Cole won the Coventry, Chesham and Norfolk in 1991 and also had a juvenile treble in 1994 when landing the Coventry and Chesham once again, along with the Windsor Castle.

He teams up with son Oliver to saddle Royal Scotsman, who looked a high-class youngster when bolting up by five lengths at Goodwood last month and may just fly in under the radar.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'He could be one of the best two-year olds we've had'

While his father has three Coventry Stakes successes on his CV, Richard Hannon has yet to win the race but he believes Persian Force is among one the best two-year-olds he has ever had as he bids for his elusive success.

He went closest with Threat in 2019 when he was beaten half a length by Arizona, and he looks to have a colt of significant potential on his hands.

Persian Force has a looked a real talent on his first two startsCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He said: "I've not made it a secret about how much I like this horse and I really do believe he's the real deal. I'd go as far to say he could be one of the best two-year-olds we've had for quite some time.

"This is the Coventry and obviously another big step up the ladder, and he could finish fourth and still have run a fantastic race, but Threat was only narrowly beaten in this race a few years ago and I'd like to think, at this stage, Persian Force is already better than him so we go there with lots of hope, anticipation and excitement."

O'Brien 'ready to go' for number ten

This is a race Aidan O'Brien knows how to win, with the Ballydoyle maestro collecting Coventry Stakes honours nine times since his first success with Harbour Master back in 1997.

Blackbeard will bid to emulate Caravaggio as the last horse who completed the Marble Hill-Coventry double, with the colt also by the same sire of O'Brien's last Coventry winner, Arizona, in No Nay Never.

O'Brien said: "We were a bit disappointed with his second run when he just won, but he bounced back and won very well the third day. Everything he's doing he's doing well and you'd have to be very happy with his last run. He's ready to go."

There is no denying Age Of Kings has serious talent after he ran away with a conditions race at the Curragh 13 days ago.

The son of Kingman will be partnered by Frankie Dettori and while he may only have had the two runs, he looks to have improved significantly from his debut second at Naas and took care of business at the Curragh like a smart performer.

O'Brien said: "He was very green the first day. We were a bit surprised how green he was. He looked like he learned a lot and he was a lot more professional the next day and won very nicely. We've still a lot to learn about him but hopefully he runs well."

'He's quite a talented two-year-old'

Andrew Balding won the Coventry last season with 11-1 shot Berkshire Shadow and bids for back-to-back successes with Holguin, a two-year-old held in high regard by his rider David Probert.

Probert said: “He's a lovely horse and deserves to take his chance. The yard won the race last year with Berkshire Shadow, and Holguin is kind of similar to him.

"There were only three runners at Newbury last time and he had to make the running. He looks to have more of a fair chance here, the extra cover will help him, and a track like Ascot would suit him well. He's quite a talented two-year-old and his work's been very good."

What they say

Archie Watson, trainer of Bradsell
I've been very happy with Bradsell since his run at York and I hope he can run a very good race.

Colin Keane, rider of Late September
They're coming a long way so you'd like to think they believe he has a bit of a chance. He improved from his first run to win his maiden on his second run. It's the Coventry and anything could happen, but you'd be hopeful of a big run.

Charlie Hills, trainer of Paddy's Day
He's in great order and has a great attitude and temperament. He's been training well since and the big day and large crowds will not faze him.

Oliver Cole, joint-trainer of Royal Scotsman
He's working really well at home. Obviously everyone thinks they've got a good one when you come into races like this. What he did at Goodwood was what we expected first time out at Ascot. He ran very green there and has definitely come on. It's a tough race but he's a good horse.

Clive Cox, trainer of Scholarship
Scholarship made a very pleasing debut at Haydock. This is a huge step forward, but I've been very pleased since that run and I'm looking forward to him taking his chance.

Ado McGuinness, trainer of Ti Sento
He's in great form. He arrived over well and was bouncing around when he got there. It's a big step up in class but he's a very nice horse and we're expecting a big run. Maidens in Ireland are not an easy win, especially an open one, it was a tough ask and he done it well. Fingers crossed he'll run a big race for us.
Reporting by Brian Dowling

Tuesday at Royal Ascot:

2.30 Ascot: 'He's improving all the time' - find out who reckons they can beat Baaeed

3.40 Ascot: Golden Pal v Nature Strip: Wesley Ward and Chris Waller on their sprint stars

4.20 Ascot: Charlie Appleby bullish over 2,000 Guineas hero Coroebus in St James's Palace

5.00 Ascot: Royal Ascot or Cheltenham? It's Mullins v Elliott again in Ascot Stakes

5.35 Ascot: 'Hopefully he has a big chance' - Juan Elcano bids for a second Wolferton win

6.10 Ascot: is Aidan O'Brien's runner a handicap blot in the Copper Horse?

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