Richard Hannon believes Urban Icon is a genuine contender ahead of the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.
Urban Icon claimed wins at Salisbury and Windsor last year and was last seen when coming in third in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury earlier this month.
Ten Sovereigns is the current favourite ahead of the 2000 Guineas after Too Darn Hot’s withdrawal, with Magna Grecia and Royal Marine also expected to challenge.
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Hannon’s is as big as 33/1 with some bookmakers, but the trainer is convinced the three-year-old can make a statement at Newmarket. “He ran a super race at Newbury,” said Hannon, as reported by Sky Sports. “I normally look on the bright side of things, but Tom [Marquand, jockey] got off him and said he has given him the best feel of any horse he has ever ridden at Newbury. “He could just fly to the Guineas under the radar.
He was having the third run of his life. The handicapper has put him up 10lb, but you hope he never runs in one. “You go to a trial to find out if you have got a good horse – we have and at worst he is a Jersey horse, and at best he will run well in the Guineas.”
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