Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Chindit looks the pick
CHINDIT can give trainer Richard Hannon a second Qipco 2000 Guineas win in the colts Classic at Newmarket this afternoon.
The Marlborough handler took the tried-and-tested route with Chindit, running him in Newbury’s Greenham Stakes two weeks ago.
Night Of Thunder, who won the Guineas for Hannon in 2014, was second to Kingman in the seven-furlong Group Three before turning the tables in the big race itself.
Night Of Thunder was sent off 40-1 that day, whereas Chindit will start at only a fraction of those odds after getting his three-year-old campaign off to a flier in the Greenham.
Chindit may have only got home in a finish of necks, but he was on top at the line to suggest there could be more improvement to come when he is stepped up to a mile.
He was beaten just once as a two-year-old, and that was over this course in the Dewhurst, but he can be forgiven that because he was denied a clear run when about to make a move and could never get into a challenging position afterwards.
Having shown he has trained on, Chindit can keep the Aidan O’Brien team at bay to clinch Classic glory.
Meanwhile, Garrus has returned in fine heart in two runs so far this year and has plenty going for him in the Betfair Palace House Stakes, and Hortzadar, though, slightly disappointing at Newmarket last time, is worth another chance in the Thirsk Hunt Cup at the North Yorkshire track this afternoon.