Canford Cliffs remains firmly on course for Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot after coming through a racecourse gallop at Kempton with flying colours.
Richard Hannon’s Lockinge winner is set for a mouthwatering clash with brilliant French mare Goldikova in the Ascot curtain-raiser and connections are confident.
The trainer’s son and assistant, Richard Hannon Junior, said: “We were very, very pleased with him and we’re going flat out for Goldikova now.
“You can see he has improved physically – people who see him in the paddock will see that for themselves.
“We knew he would improve going to Newbury and he will have to, as he is taking on horses that are probably a lot better.
“But he will be a lot fitter and the way he worked this morning was super.
“He was fairly lit up this morning – he wasn’t silly but he was hard on the bridle.
“He’s just how you’d like him as he’ll have to travel very well on Tuesday to keep up with the rest of them. They’ll go very hard early on.”
Stablemate Dick Turpin has disappointed in his first couple of starts this year and connections have yet to decide whether he will line up in the Queen Anne.
“We’re not sure yet. We left him in and we’re going to have a look,” Hannon Jnr said.
“We got his blood and trachea wash and they say they are OK, so it’s up to us to discuss with (owner) John Manley.”
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