Libranno set for Morny test Richard Hannon's speedy juvenile Libranno puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday. After a 25-1 debut success at Newmarket, the youngster has gone on to prove that was no fluke with victories in the July Stakes at Headquarters and in Goodwood's Richmond Stakes. He tackles Group One company this weekend and is likely to bounce out in a bid to make all under Richard Hughes. "It could be Libranno's first time on soft ground, although we are told that the going is drying out fast and that it won't be far off good come Sunday," the trainer told his website www.richardhannonracing.tv. "All his three wins have come on good or faster ground, so we will have to see how he copes with a bit of cut if they have got the forecast wrong. "Libranno deserves a crack at the big one, having won a pair of Group Twos in the July Stakes and the Richmond at Goodwood. "He looks a sprinter through and through and wins his races by killing off the opposition by half-way with his early speed, so there seems no point in fighting him - best to let him jump and run. "He seems very well at home and, although it looks a hot race, they will have him to catch." Another interesting British contender is the David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead. The Diktat colt annihilated his rivals by nine lengths and more on his racecourse debut at Nottingham, but his trainer admits he faces a tougher assignment on Sunday. "It's a big step up for him. Hopefully the ground will be in his favour and it doesn't dry out too much," said Simcock. "He's improved significantly since his first run and we're really looking forward to running him. "He's a horse who has always been mature and talented and he's never done anything wrong in his work at home. "He'll have some tough opposition on Sunday with the likes of Libranno and Soraaya, who are proven Group horses, and there are some very good French horses as well." Irish Field lines up on the back of victory in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte for Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez, but has been trained for this race by Lambourn-based John Hills. "He came to me about four days after winning the Papin and essentially he has been bought to go to Hong Kong," said Hills. "The long and the short of it is he missed his first quarantine period to go out to Hong Kong. "So once they realised he had to spend the month of August in the UK anyway, the owner, Mr Wong, asked me if I would take the horse for a few weeks and if I was happy with him to run him in the Morny. "I haven't done a lot with the horse but he looks a picture and is clearly in good condition. "I would have thought this will be his only run for me before he heads off abroad. "His form obviously looks good with Approve coming out and winning at York earlier this week, so he must have a good chance on Sunday."
