Favourite silences critics with classy Curragh victory

JUST a week after Paco Boy firmly silenced his stamina doubters in the Lockinge Stakes, stablemate Canford Cliffs repeated the dose to provide Richard Hannon with a third Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Richard Hughes rode the ultimate waiting race on the 9-4 favourite and the English Guineas third quickly settled matters inside the distance as he slew the Classic field by three lengths.

Such was the speed Canford Cliffs showed when bounding six lengths clear in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, many had predicted a mile would be beyond him.

As with Paco Boy, Hannon was having none of that and his belief was repaid in spades.

After being beaten when hanging left in the Greenham by stablemate and English and French Guineas runner-up Dick Turpin, Canford Cliffs appeared to stay the trip at Headquarters earlier this month.

He settled much better on this occasion, allowing Hughes to preserve every ounce of energy for the electric burst of speed in the closing stages.

Clive Cox's Xtension and Ralph Beckett's Oasis Dancer both held chances in the front rank heading inside the final two furlongs but joined their rivals in being left for dead by the winner.

Jim Bolger's Free Judgement belied his 25-1 starting price to finish second, with Aidan O'Brien's Viscount Nelson and Steinbeck taking third and fourth respectively.

The winning trainer's son and assistant, Richard Hannon jnr, said: "He relaxed a lot more than usual and was able to finish his race.

"He's won well, didn't hang left today and has run straight to the finish. He did a piece of work last week that was his best since he won the Coventry and Hughesie was able to sit on him like he was a jet-ski.

He'll go to the St James's Palace and deserves to take his chance."