Hannon plans hinge on weather

Unsettled weather today continued to hinder Richard Hannon`s plans for his big Sagitta 2000 Guineas hope Tamburlaine.

But the Marlborough trainer admitted he would prefer to aim his star colt at next Saturday`s Greenham Stakes at Newbury, rather than bidding for the Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes at Newmarket two days earlier.

He wants to avoid unduly soft ground for the Racing Post Trophy runner-up, who is 7-1 third favourite for the Guineas with William Hill.

'I am still jiggling it around,' Hannon said.

'It was a nice drying day at Newbury, though there was a bit of rain last night and we couldn`t use the grass this morning and had to go on the all-weather.

'He will be entered in the Greenham and we would like to go there as it is just down the road but we would be quite happy to go to Newmarket for the Craven if the ground is right.'

Hannon is used to the difficulties of preparing a colt for the Guineas, having won the Newmarket Classic in the past with Mon Fils, Don`t Forget Me and Tirol.

'Tamburlaine is in good order and we have got some nice horses here but they are all in need of a run as we have had so much rain,' he added.

If given the go-ahead to tackle the Craven, Tamburlaine would face a rematch with Guineas favourite Nayef who beat him by just neck at Newbury last autumn.

Hannon also has Solario Stakes winner King`s Ironbridge in the Craven, in which his Umistim beat subsequent Guineas victor King`s Best last year.

'King`s Ironbridge could well run in the Craven as he doesn`t get a penalty,' the trainer said.