Toormore worth a shout in tight field

TOORMORE appeals as the value call in the first Classic of the season, the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

In any other year Richard Hannon’s charge would be a likely favourite but with Greenham winner Kingman and the regally-bred Australia in the line-up, it is tight at the top.

Unbeaten in four juvenile starts when trained by Hannon’s father, the Arakan colt was crowned champion juvenile after signing off the campaign with victory in the Group One National Stakes last September.

Doubtless his generous odds are due in part to a visibly underwhelming effort when winning the Craven Stakes on his return last month.

While Toormore could merely be RICHARD HANNON: saddles Toormore in the Qipco 2000 Guineas described as workmanlike, there were plenty of positives to take from his two-length defeat of The Grey Gatsby. Not only was he saddled with a penalty, he also had to do much of the donkey work himself and Hannon had made no secret of the fact that he would improve plenty for the outing.

As it was, Ryan Moore was far from hard on him in winning and the run will surely have had the desired effect in the fitness department.

Tim Palin, the Middleham Park racing manager, insists the team are relaxed ahead of the race and were playing down his chances. “I don’t think any of us are feeling any pressure, to be honest,” he said. “There’s certainly no pressure on Richard Hughes or Toormore. After Kingman won the Greenham Stakes at Newbury the way he did, all of the pressure was taken off our shoulders. If Kingman is the next Frankel we’re not going to beat him and if Australia really is the best horse Aidan O’Brien has ever trained, as people are suggesting, we’re not going to beat him either.”

The ante-post favourite Rizeena features in a field of 19 declared for the Qipco 1000 Guineas tomorrow, with Clive Brittain bullish about her chances of giving him a third triumph in the race after Pebbles in 1984 and Sayyedati in 1993.

Winner of the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot over the minimum five-furlong trip, the daughter of Iffraaj relished seven furlongs when claiming the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and was a fine second to Chriselliam in the Fillies’ Mile on her final twoyear-old start.

Brittain’s confidence has not been diminished despite having to change jockey with champion Richard Hughes replacing Ryan Moore, who rides Bracelet for the Aidan O’Brien team, and James Doyle, who is required for Joyeuse.