Richard Hannon: St Leger trip will 'very much' suit Derby runner-up Mojo Star

Richard Hannon has talked up the chances of the "always underrated" Mojo Star causing an upset in the Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday, saying he will be suited perfectly by the step up in trip.

Mojo Star burst on to the scene when a shock 50-1 runner-up in the Cazoo Derby on only his third start, when he finished three and a quarter lengths ahead of odds-on St Leger favourite Hurricane Lane.

That form was reversed in the Irish Derby next time out when Mojo Star endured a difficult passage through the race and Hannon is quietly confident of lowering the colours of the Godolphin runner and claiming a first win in the final British Classic of the season.

3.35 Doncaster Saturday: Cazoo St Leger entries and betting

Hannon said: "He's been crying out for this longer trip and this galloping track will suit him. He's in great form, but it's obviously a very good race, dare I say it stronger than it has been for a few years.

"He's not the one to beat and has always been slightly underrated in my opinion by everybody, but he's a gorgeous horse and deserves to take his chance."

Mojo Star's Epsom performance earned him the unenviable tag of the highest-rated maiden in training, a label he shed at Newbury last month.

The trainer added: "It's no fun having the highest-rated maiden in the world and he was very impressive at Newbury where he did what he had to.

"He followed the Derby run with one that wasn't his best, but he was brought near to a standstill. He took a long time to get going after that because he's not the fastest horse in the world, so this extra two furlongs will suit him very much."

Hannon also admitted his disappointment in the performance of star filly Snow Lantern in Sunday's Prix du Moulin, where she finished fourth of six – four lengths behind impressive winner Baaeed.

Snow Lantern: was a disappointing fourth at Longchamp on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Falmouth Stakes heroine will head next to the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 2 before potentially being stepped up in trip.

Hannon said: "It was disappointing and that's not her level. She ran no race at all and I think she does need further. Even if it's for a stride you'd usually see a flash of brilliance but we didn't get that. It was only going to the line that she started to run on, but the winner's a good horse.

"We'll go to the Sun Chariot which I know is a mile, but she has the beating of the fillies in this country and then we might go up to a mile and a quarter. We need to make sure she's all right first and it's one of those where you nearly hope you find something."

Cazoo St Leger

Paddy Power: 4-6 Hurricane Lane, 5 Ottoman Emperor, 13-2 Mojo Star, 7 High Definition, 9 Sir Lucan, 11 The Mediterranean, 20 Interpretation, King Of The Castle, 25 Youth Spirit, 33 Carlisle Bay, Fernando Vichi, 50 Save A Forest, Scope

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