Hannon’s hope can step up at Salisbury

After wins in two ultra-competitive handicaps, Motakhayyel can successfully graduate to Group Three company in the AJN Steelstock Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury.

The Richard Hannontrained four-year-old lifted the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot and followed up in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket.

He steps up from seven furlongs to a mile - but that should not be an issue as he won twice over the longer distance last year.

Sometimes those feature handicaps can be tougher to win than some Group races and he does not have much to find with Regal Reality, who is top-rated.

He can continue Hamdan Al Maktoum and Jim Crowley's golden spell since the resumption.

Hannon could also be celebrating with Hot Summer in the AJN Steelstock Cecilia Hall Handicap.

He got off the mark at the fifth time of asking at Windsor last month but was slightly disappointing last time out.

That came over 10 furlongs, though, and he will be much more at home back down at a mile.

Muscika can defy a 4lb rise for a recent victory at York when he lines up for the William Hill Extra Places Every Day Handicap at Thirsk.

The David O'Mearatrained sprinter ended a 14-month losing spell with a tidy display on the Knavesmire to hold Golden Apollo by three-quarters of a length.

That would have given the six-year-old confidence and he looks to have every chance of doubling up.

Prince Eiji can land an overdue victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Conditions Stakes.

Roger Varian's four-yearold has been beaten seven times since making a winning debut at Ascot in September 2018.

He has been running well and shaped encouragingly when fourth to Global Giant in a Listed race at Newbury on his first run since being gelded.

First Winter got off the mark at Windsor on his fourth career start and can repeat the trick over the same mile-and-a-quarter in the Taplow Handicap.

His win came in a novice event and he now tackles handicap company for the first time, with a mark of 86 not looking too harsh judged on the style of his success.

Charlie Appleby's charge made all the running and supporters of the 4-7 favourite had few anxious moments as the Dubawi gelding scooted up by three-and-three-quarter lengths from Kimberley in a field of 12.

Binyon, meanwhile, has been a big price in all his five races so far but is far from being a forlorn hope in the Woodside Handicap.