Hannon keen on Canford

Richard Hannon firmly believes Canford Cliffs will take all the beating in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas.

The East Everleigh handler is not fazed by all the talk about ante-post favourite St Nicholas Abbey ahead of the Newmarket Classic in May.

And he reports last summer's Coventry Stakes winner, who has not raced since finishing a close third in the Prix Morny, to be on course to reappear in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury next month.

"He has strengthened up and started to fill his frame, and, more significantly, he is looking much more relaxed than he was last season," he told his website, www.richardhannonracing.tv.

"He has done a couple of proper bits of work and will do another one later in the week, and we could not be happier with him.

"Nothing was able to give him a tow in the Coventry, but we think he will be better when he gets a lead, and, while some professionals are suggesting that he will prove a sprinter, we don't see the Guineas mile being a problem.

"We all think that he is the real deal and the best we have ever had on the place in 40 years.

"We might possibly take him to Kempton for a spin on the Polytrack, but the plan is definitely to go for the Greenham, and then all roads will hopefully lead to Newmarket."

Hannon has both Ryan Moore and Jimmy Fortune on standby should stable jockey Richard Hughes be unsuccessful in his appeal against a suspension that would mean him missing the Guineas.

"If there is any justice Hughesie, who was putting the welfare of King Supreme first at Kempton, will win his appeal, but we won't be losing any sleep about jockeys, and Ryan Moore and Jimmy Fortune have both been down to ride out recently," Hannon remarked.

The trainer also had news of several of his other 2000 entries, Dick Turpin, Lucky General and Carnaby Street, plus the speedy Monsieur Chevalier.

"Dick Turpin has also done very well through the winter," Hannon revealed.

"He was a big two-year-old, so he was always going to improve, and, though we had to take our time with him because of the wet weather, he is going well, and, he, too, could go for the Greenham. It is not ideal running both, but they have different owners, and Newbury is the perfect place to start.

"No decision has been about where to kick off with Lucky General, but Carnaby Street could represent us in the Craven, and he is another who has thrived during the winter.

"It will be tough for Monsieur Chevalier this season, but he proved a real money-spinner last year and I have no doubt that he will win races again this summer.

"The way he runs brings me to think that he could get seven furlongs, which would increase our options, because it is always hard for a three-year-old sprinter to hold his own against the older horses until Royal Ascot time."