Horse Racing: Measuring Time can help Hannon cause

RICHARD HANNON suffered a couple of reverses at the Ebor meeting this week but Measuring Time is taken to get the stable back on track at Sandown.

Hannon suffered disappointment last weekend when Paco Boy was beaten in France while Martyr failed to shine as the favourite in the Ebor itself, but victory in the Alexis Catchpole Celebration Solario Stakes should offer a little consolation.

The Wiltshire trainer is renowned for his astute handling of juveniles and could have another good one on his hands in the shape of this Dubai Destination colt. He is facing quite a sharp leap in class in tackling this Group Three after winning a maiden and a conditions heat on his two racecourse starts to date.

The second and third from that latter run have before turned in satisfactory efforts since while the fourth has gone on to French Listed glory so the form looks pretty solid. Hannon opted to give him a bit of a break after that success as Measuring Time still looked pretty weak and his patience can pay off with Pattern glory.

Long Lashes looked like a possible Classic contender at one point last year but after failing to hit those kind of heights, she can continue the recovery mission in the Danepak Atalanta Stakes. The three-year-old was an impressive Listed winner on her juvenile debut last time, prompting Godolphin to prise the filly away from Jessica Harrington.

While she made a good start for Saeed bin Suroor in winning the Sweet Solera last August, she subsequently found the step up to Group One level beyond her in both the Moyglare and Fillies' Mile.

Reverting to female-only company and with a handy weight advantage, Long Lashes could be ready to return to winning form.