Canford Cliffs in good form ahead of 2000 Guineas Richard Hannon is in confident mood as Canford Cliffs bids to finally live up to the hype in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday. Having run away with last year's Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the son of Tagula has always carried a massive reputation. He suffered his first defeat on his final start at two when behind Arcano and dual Guineas winner Special Duty in the Prix Morny, but Hannon felt he had genuine excuses. On his seasonal return he threw away any chance of victory in the Greenham Stakes when drifting across the track, leaving stablemate Dick Turpin to take advantage, while he was also behind his stable companion in the Guineas at Newmarket as the pair filled the places behind Makfi. Canford Cliffs appeared to stay the trip that day, however, and Hannon hopes if Richard Hughes can settle him better in Ireland, it will bring about a different result. "I think he'll give everyone a bit to think about on Saturday," said Hannon. "I didn't think a mile would be a problem at Newmarket. He ran a bit free that day and hopefully that won't happen again in Ireland. "I thought he would run them very close at Newmarket and he should have come on a bit from it." Just a length behind Canford Cliffs at Newmarket was Clive Cox's Xtension. He was also narrowly beaten into third last October in the Dewhurst, one place ahead of Steinbeck. "I'm very happy and he did a very nice, pleasing piece of work last Saturday morning," said Cox. "I was very pleased with his run at Newmarket. I'm delighted that he has come back well from that and the three horses in front of him all had the benefit of a run. "We took that choice not to have a run prior to the Guineas, but I'm pleased that hopefully he will just improve a little bit from there. "I'd like to think that he's come on since then and I was thrilled with him on Saturday in what was just a routine piece of work, but he pleased me very much."
