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'It's been a long two days' - Hannon smiling as he keeps horses and kids in line

Sir Rumi (purple silks) lands the 1m4f handicap at Newbury
Sir Rumi (purple silks) lands the 1m4f handicap at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Saturday: Newbury

Sir Rumi's victory in the 1m4f handicap was a welcome winner for Richard Hannon, although it was children, rather than horses, he had to work his magic on after the race.

Hannon's young son Jack was reluctant to have his picture taken with the winner, but eventually joined big sister Eliza for the snap.

"The children were meant to come for the Mill Reef, but were late – thank God," joked Hannon, whose runners Shouldvebeenaring and Wallop were down the field in the card's Group 2 feature.

"They've just turned up five minutes before this winner – nice and easy."

Sean Levey, a jockey linked to Hannon's powerful stable, was on Thursday stood down from riding at Newcastle on medical grounds, while the operation has not enjoyed a storming September.

Hannon would not be drawn on the Levey situation, but said: "It's been a long two days.

"They're running well. The two-year-olds in the Group 2 didn't look good enough and were beaten by a better horse [Sakheer], but Fancy Man ran a super race here today.

"But what you tend to feel nowadays after a winner is relief, although we've got lots to look forward to. Persian Force will run in the Middle Park next week and Trillium in the Cheveley Park, while Magical Sunset, who beat Sakheer at Windsor, will go for the Goffs Million."

Rainbow shines

Rainbow Fire could prove a shrewd purchase judged on what he produced in the 7f handicap.

Now in the colours of Middleham Park Racing, he is trained by Marco Botti, who shelled out 35,000gns to buy him out of the John and Thady Gosden yard.

Neil Callan, known in the sport as the ironman of riders because of his supreme strength, did the steering and said: "I hadn't sat on him at home and Marco hasn't done much with him. He's just kept him sweet and ticking over and the run today was to see where we were at.

"He'd always been on the pace or pressing it, so we wanted to drop him in and relax and see what he could do. He picked up nicely, although I was in front too soon. He's a nice horse with a good attitude.

"He doesn't do anything quickly, but lengthens well. That bit of dig in the ground was perfect and I think he can improve for sure."

Stay Alert (left) picks up nicely at Newbury
Stay Alert (left) picks up nicely at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Alert on top

David Egan was the man of the moment – he rode four winners on the card – and his second of the afternoon came on Stay Alert in the Group 3 Legacy Cup.

He was bred by owners Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib and is trained by Hughie Morrison, who said: "It was important, after the Lancashire Oaks, to settle her, so it was the plan to drop her in, but she was incredibly relaxed. She went down relaxed and made up the ground easy down the outside. She showed a turn of foot and has a bit of toe.

"The plan was to have a blow here and then go to Ascot next month for the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. She was second to Nashwa here in May but we weren't really wound up for that. I was disappointed with her in the Lancashire Oaks, but she didn't run her race. She was very free and it wasn't her day."

Stay Alert could remain in training next year and Morrison added: "Ben and Martin like to have a go and the family get better with age. We'd have a lot to look forward to next year."


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James BurnLambourn correspondent

Published on 17 September 2022inReports

Last updated 18:33, 17 September 2022

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