Hannon can strike gold with Olympic Glory

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:01 01.08.2012

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Richard Hannon's Olympic Glory is selected to land the Group 2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes on day two of Glorious Goodwood.

The Choisir colt has valuable experience of this tricky undulating course after winning impressively on his debut here in June, and has improved with each run since. He was a very creditable second in a huge field at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes, and got back on the winning trail at Newmarket in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes 18 days ago (all out to deny Birdman in a photo after a muddling early gallop). Richard Hughes is in the saddle again and he can swoop late on this likeable juvenile despite having to carry a penalty for his Group race victory.

Main danger for the £60,000 prize money may come from Peter Chapple-Hyam's Maxentius. He finished a close third behind our selection last time out and could well reverse the form in a more strongly run contest. The Holy Roman Emperor colt created a deep impression when winning his first two starts at Folkestone (well backed on debut) and Doncaster (always pulling double and sprinted clear when seeing daylight). He will appreciate these faster conditions after the heavy ground blunted his speed at Newmarket and could be an each-way alternative at the prices.

John Gosden's Ghurair is pushed straight up in class after winning a big field maiden at HQ in soft ground in July. He was a well supported 3-1f that day despite meeting some more experienced types, and duly landed the confidence despite evident signs of greeness. This will be far more of a test of speed but he can only improve and certainly has the scope to develop into a top class colt.

Artigiano got off the mark impressively at Leicester in May but has been found out in better company twice since and seems exposed, while Tha'ir won a below par renewal of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot (form let down several times since) and may struggle in this warm Group 2.

Perhaps Whippers Boy may be the one to outrun his price for those hunting away from the obvious. He improved in typical Brian Meehan style on his second start at Epsom, storming clear in the closing stages to beat the useful Zanetto by nearly four lengths. That was a huge step forward on his debut run and a further leap upwards would make him an interesting runner with Kieran Fallon in the saddle again.

In summary, a high class clash of some of the best juveniles seen so far, but Olympic Glory is a confident choice to continue his progression. The perfect ground forecast should see him in a better light than when scrambling home in a bog last time out, and Richard Hughes rides the Sussex venue better than anyone. At around 4-1 this morning he is well worth a decent each-way investment.

Stephen's Wednesday Nap Pearl Sea 4.20 Goodwood

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