'He's a colt we've always liked' - Richard Hannon seeking more glory in £500,000 race with An Outlaw's Grace

It is common for two or three horses to be at a major ratings advantage in two-year-old sales races and we are seeing that here. An Outlaw’s Grace and Arizona Blaze tower above the opposition. 

An Outlaw’s Grace is particularly interesting in light of Richard Hannon’s exceptional record in this race. The yard has won five of the last eight runnings with their first string and this colt is their only runner this season. 

He failed to settle in the Vintage Stakes over 7f last time and will be more at home in this big-field 6f race with a strong pace virtually guaranteed. 

This is too good an opportunity to pass up for Arizona Blaze. He brings Group 1 form to the table by dint of his Phoenix Stakes third 12 days ago, form which received a big boost with runner-up Whistlejacket landing the Prix Morny on Sunday. Babouche, who won the Phoenix, is now favourite for the Cheveley Park Stakes. There is nothing of that calibre for Arizona Blaze to overcome this time.

Given the competitiveness of racing at York, a 15 per cent strike-rate over the last five seasons is no mean feat from Andrew Balding. Nor is a £62.20 level-stakes profit in that timeframe. His filly Ghost Run stands out among those in the second rung of juveniles bidding to trouble the big three.

Ghost Run is a half-sister to Balding’s York specialist Nymphadora and would be a shoo-in for a handicap. The draw did her few favours in a good fillies’ handicap at Newmarket on her previous start and that form is red-hot with the third and sixth winning next time.  
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Adam Ryan, assistant trainer of Territorial Knight, Against The Wind, Jorge Alvares and American Style
Territorial Knight came out of Pontefract well and he’s been improving with each run this season. He won his last race impressively and this was the target straight after. Against The Wind took a nice step forward to win last time out at Newcastle and he seemed like he had matured mentally as he raced the correct way. He saw out the race well, so stepping up to six furlongs at York should be no trouble for him and he’s improved with every run. Jorge Alvares is rock solid. He has course-and-distance form from his first run and he is very straightforward. American Style just bumped into one again last time out. He’s been gelded since and he’s improved with every run, so hopefully he can put up a bold run.

Richard Hannon, trainer of An Outlaw's Grace
He made a bright start to his career when winning at Salisbury and then stepped up again to run a great race in the Group 2 Robert Papin. I don’t think he got the best of luck in the Vintage last time and this more conventional track will suit. I’m not concerned about the drop back to six furlongs, because they always go a right gallop in this, and we’ve got a good record in the race. He’s a colt we've always liked.

Karl Burke, trainer of Our Mighty Mo and Cracking Man
They're both outsiders, so would have each-way chances at best. We're going there facing a tough task but they're in good form.
Reporting by Ash Symonds

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