RACING AHEAD with Tony McCormick

Racing pundit Tony McCormick from www.irishbigracetrends.com beforetheoff.com and racing radio station racingfm.com presents his weekly column.

Jockey Paul Hanagan has hailed top three-year-old sprinter Muhaarar as ‘The best sprinter, I have ever ridden’.

Hanagan was speaking following the colt’s fourth win from five runs this season in the Group One l’Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday, winning by half a length, with the likes of Andre Fabre’s Esoterique, the seven-year-old Gordon Lord Byron, the David O’Meara-trained Watchable and Ivawood, from the Richard Hannon yard, all trailing in behind.

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Muhaarar started the season winning the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April, before pulling too hard in the Group One Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp over a mile, finishing eighth of the 18 runners.

Trained by Charlie Hills, the first of his Group One wins came in the inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, when the colt pulverised an 18-strong runner field. His next outing was at Newmarket in the Group 1 July Cup, when he got up late, to beat, the game, Tropics by a nose over his beloved six furlongs.

Haydock’s Sprint Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Mile are now on the radar for connections.

Newbury hosts a fine card on Saturday with the Group Two Hungerford Stakes the highlight. Godolphin’s Safety Check and Toormore head the market, but there was significant money, on Tuesday morning, for Hugo Palmers Home Of The Brave, being backed from 9/1 in to 5/1 co favourite.

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This weekend’s multiple entries once again raise some interest, here are four runners to keep an eye on and let’s see if their ‘wily’ get their final decision correct.

Danethorpe trainer Mick Appebly, looks confident he has his three-year-old, Sakhee’s Secret filly fit and well, as she has four entries over the weekend.

Nottingham on Friday is a possible as well as the 2.25 or the 4.40 at Ripon, along with an entry at Doncaster on Saturday.

Richard Fahey would prefer a run for Don’t Touch in the Great St Wilfred at Ripon on Saturday, but has the three-year-old gelding in at Newmarket, the Silver Trophy at Ripon and at Doncaster on Saturday.

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Denzille Lane, a winner at Epsom last month, is entered at on five occasions on Saturday. The Mark Johnston-trained three-year-old holds engagements at Newmarket, Newbury, Doncaster and twice at Ripon.

Last but not least, Johnston is still trying to find a win for the members of the ‘Conquer The World Partnership’. The trainer has Adele entered on Saturday at Newbury and Ripon, while the three-year-old should turn up at Pontefract on Sunday, if any of the previous day’s runs are ruled out.

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