Hannon delighted as he aims to come up trumps

Strong Suit is likely to have plenty of followers and is the choice of Richard Hughes after going very close in the Prix Jean Prat when last seen but stablemate Libranno could be a very solid alternative.

The Librettist colt won his first three starts last season, including an easy win at this meeting.

Back to that sort of form when landing the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, he was far from disgraced in the July Cup last time and has won two out of three starts when Ryan Moore has been booked to ride.

Hannon is delighted with both charges ahead of the seven-furlong test, and said: “Hughesie naturally sticks with Strong Suit, who, though having run a blinder in France where he was only caught close home in a three-way photo for the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, will definitely be suited by coming back to seven furlongs. He seems back to his old self after that breathing operation, and we are very hopeful.

“However, don’t rule out Libranno, who ran a terrific race to finish fourth in the July Cup.

“He won the Richmond here last year and has won over seven, and he is very versatile and the track is made for him.”

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston is mob-handed in the bet365 Gordon Stakes, but with the ground seemingly going against his strongest runner in Namibian, it may pay to go with Slumber.

Barry Hills’s charge was just three lengths behind Treasure Beach and Nathaniel in the Chester Vase and ran another solid race at the Royal meeting last time.

Hot favourite Fiorente was further behind Nathaniel at Ascot than Slumber was at Chester, so the Cacique colt could be the best value on offer.

Hills’s son and assistant, Charlie, was pleased to see an upturn in fortunes for the yard over the weekend and is hopeful Slumber can maintain that momentum.

He said: “The whole stable hasn’t really been up to form but we had a very good weekend. He should get the trip well and handle the course.

“He didn’t do anything wrong in the old Hampton Court at Ascot and that form looks good, while Nathaniel, who was in front of him at Chester, won the King George at the weekend. His recent work has been nice.”

The opening bet365.com Handicap is usually a fiendish puzzle to solve but it may be worth taking a gamble on Constant Contact after his creditable run at York last time.

Andrew Balding’s charge kept on nicely for seventh in the John Smith’s Cup, having struggled for room two furlongs out, and the handicapper may have taken a chance in dropping him 1lb for this contest.

The other Group race on the card is the bet365 Molecomb Stakes for juvenile sprinters, and Requinto could strike for Ireland. The Dansili colt is unbeaten in two starts over the minimum trip, and had an easy win in Listed company at Tipperary last time.