'She's going to run a big race' - Snow Lantern team confident before Sun Chariot

Saturday: 2.55 Newmarket
Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1) | 1m | 3yo+ fillies and mares | ITV4/RTV

Snow Lantern returns to Newmarket in an attempt to record a second Group 1 success and emulate her illustrious mother Sky Lantern.

The daughter of Frankel provided Richard Hannon with the high point of his year when settling an old family score in a vintage running of the Falmouth over on the July course.

Her dam Sky Lantern controversially went down by a neck to Elusive Kate in the 2013 Falmouth, which connections were unsuccessful in appealing, but later that year she gained compensation in the Sun Chariot.

Snow Lantern, who has always been held in the highest regard by Hannon, is back racing against her own sex after defeats in the Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin.

"We took in the Moulin because she appeared to be in good form, but her scope wasn't right when she came back from France, so she's been on antibiotics," said Hannon. "All her figures are fine and she's in great form now and we're very happy with her. She's going to run a big race."

The trainer was assistant to his father Richard Hannon snr during the days of Sky Lantern but won the Sun Chariot in his own right two years ago with Billesdon Brook.

"This race has always been the main target for Snow Lantern since the Falmouth," he said. "After what her mother did in that race, the Falmouth was the highlight of my year so far. It meant a lot to everybody and the fact she's homebred by Rockcliffe Stud was very important for them.

"Sky Lantern won this race very well and it would be nice if this filly could do the same."

Mother Earth returns to scene of Guineas win

The admirably consistent Mother Earth has been unfortunate not to have more to show for her efforts since winning the 1,000 Guineas over course and distance in May.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly gained another Group 1 victory in the Prix Rothschild in August but has been unlucky on a few occasions this season, including last time in the Matron.

"She's a great filly who's very consistent," said O'Brien. "She relaxes, gets the mile very well and usually finishes off her races very well.

"She seems to be in good form since her last run. It was a little bit of a mess. She likes to be ridden to take her time a little bit and she got stopped in her run."

Mother Earth, who now has the Breeders' Cup on her agenda following stablemate Santa Barbara's fatal injury, renews rivalry with the second and third from the Guineas, Saffron Beach and Fev Rover, while she has half a length to find with Snow Lantern on the form of the Falmouth.

O'Brien bids for a fourth win in the Sun Chariot and all of his previous winners – Halfway To Heaven (2008), Alice Springs (2016) and Roly Poly (2017) – were three-year-olds.

Buick steps in for Saffron Beach ride

Jane Chapple-Hyam says William Buick is "not a bad substitute" as the title-chasing jockey partners her stable star Saffron Beach for the first time.

It will be a fourth different rider in a row for the 1,000 Guineas runner-up, who bounced back to form in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown last time and bids to enhance impressive form figures of 1122 on the Rowley Mile.

"David Egan and Adam Kirby are at Ascot and Hollie [Doyle] is suspended, but William's not a bad substitute," said Chapple-Hyam. "She's straightforward and doesn't take much knowing.

"She was back down to a Group 3 last time and it's going to be a bit harder back into Group 1 company, but she's in good order. It's nice that she acts on the track and the ground is set to be like it was when she won the Oh So Sharp there last year."

What the rest say

Johnny Murtagh, trainer of Champers Elysees
She's well, very well in fact. She hasn't been lucky at all this season and she got no run in the Matron last time. Hopefully her luck will change here and she's certainly fresh and well going into the race.

Ed Walker, trainer of Dreamloper and Primo Bacio
Dreamloper wasn't disgraced behind No Speak Alexander in the Matron last time, in a race not run to suit. Primo Bacio had some rock-solid form before a slightly unexplained run at York last time. She ran great in the Falmouth but the winner slightly hampered her at a crucial stage, and at Deauville the ground could have been quicker and she just never got a fair crack at it. Hopefully they won't get too much rain.

Amanda Perrett, trainer of Lavender's Blue
We could do with some sunshine as the better the ground, the better her chance. She's in very good form and likes Newmarket. It's a tough race but she's ready. The horses who finished behind her last time [including Benbatl] have all run really well, so that's great.

Nick Bradley, managing director of Nick Bradley Racing, owners of Fev Rover
She goes there on the back of a very good run in Ireland. She's always been doing her best work late in races and probably found herself a little bit too far back in her last couple of races. She's in good form and we go there expecting a big run.

Ivan Furtado, trainer of Just Beautiful
We're monitoring the ground and we'll make a decision in the morning. If the ground isn't fast enough, we won't run her in the wrong conditions. If it's good to soft, that's no good for her, as ideally she wants it good to firm. She won well at Doncaster last time and, as it was just her fourth run on turf, I don't think we've got to the bottom of her. She's come on again and is stronger now. Her best trip is probably seven furlongs and she wants fast ground to stay a mile.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of No Speak Alexander
We're hoping she'll prove the last time wasn't a fluke at Leopardstown. She's come out of the race in great form and goes there with every chance. I'm very happy with her.

Roger Varian, trainer of Tahlie
She came to us after she ran in the Prix Rothschild in France and seems to have settled in nicely. It's a tough race, as it always is, but she has decent claims of making the frame.

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