UK Horse Racing Tips

Champion trainer elect, Richard Hannon, has decided not to ask the popular Toronado to run again this term and instead will send his tremendously impressive QEII Stakes winner, Olympic Glory, to Santa Anita next month to bid for the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In what could be a sensational head-to-head between Hannon’s three-year-old and the US star, Wise Dan, (currently evens favourite with betfair.com in the ante-post lists for the big race), Olympic Glory will bid to transfer his tremendous autumn form in Europe to the heat of California, a task that has often proved a step too far over the years for many high-class performers.

In his favour, Olympic Glory has only been lightly campaigned this season so will be a relatively fresh horse having enjoyed a three-month mid-term break after being unlucky-in-running when sent off favourite for the French 2000 Guineas in May.

He returned to run a blinder in failing by just a short-head to defeat the outstanding French star, Moonlight Cloud, at Deauville in August, before filling the same position behind Maxios at Longchamp in September.

The application of first-time blinkers appeared to make all the difference to the son of Choisir at Ascot earlier this month when he tore apart a high quality field to land the QEII Stakes, revelling in the easy ground and storming clear to beat the remarkable Top Notch Tonto by over three lengths to set up his trip to the Breeders’ Cup.

The big question mark around Olympic Glory is how he will cope on potentially fast ground at Santa Anita having shown his best form in Europe when there has been give in the ground? With that factor in mind betfair.com have Hannon’s classy charge listed at around 5/1 second-favourite behind Wise Dan, a price that will doubtless appeal as a ‘knocking bet’ to those who like to play each-way.

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