Soul City set for Curragh

RACING DIGEST:SOUL CITY has been ruled out of the Epsom 2,000 Guineas in favour of a tilt at the Irish equivalent later in the month at the Curragh.

The May 23rd event has been nominated after the son of Elusive City was slow to come to hand through the opening few weeks of the Flat season.

Trainer Richard Hannon said: “He has been slow to pick up, and I suppose he was the same last year.

“He wasn’t quite there for one of the trials, so I am going to target him at the Irish 2000 Guineas.

“There is only one race he could go for as a prep but I am going to get him ready at home – there are plenty of good horses to work him with.”

Soul City, who won at Group level in France last season, ensured a huge payout for connections when taking the Goffs Million sales race at the Curragh last September.

Hannon added: “He had a hard race in France and then went to Ireland, so was probably over the top when he ran in the Dewhurst (finished 10th).

“He is a horse who doesn’t carry a stack of condition so you have to look after him a bit.”

* Richard Hannon believes Paco Boy could be difficult to beat this summer in the top-flight European races over a mile – despite having yet to prove himself at the distance.

After a night to forget in Dubai last month, the four-year-old will start his domestic campaign in the Juddmonte Lockinge on May 16th.

He will then take his chance in races like the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Hannon said: “He could be a hard horse to beat this year, unless something comes from the three-year-old crop.

“He has come back from Dubai well and his first target will be the Lockinge.

“From there he will go on to all of the top seven-furlong and mile races.” Paco Boy could only manage eighth in the Dubai Duty Free, and Hannon added: “There were too many minuses for him there.

“It was his first run of the year, the draw didn’t suit and the race was over nine furlongs – it wasn’t ran to suit. He was behind at halfway and couldn’t get in a blow.”

Paco Boy graduated from landing the Greenham 12 months ago to collect three other times at Group level during the summer, culminating in victory in the Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend.

* The Epsom Derby contender, Free Agent, is to have his mettle tested in either the bet365 Sandown Classic Trial or the totesport Dante Stakes.

Trainer Richard Hannon is eyeing Sandown on Saturday week or York on May 14th for the Dr Fong colt, who is a general 33 to 1 chance for the Epsom Classic.

Free Agent has not been sighted on the racecourse since sending hats flying by winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer. Hannon said: “He was buzzy when he came back in but I am now very happy with him. He will either go to Sandown or to the Dante as we need to run him over a mile and a quarter to see where we are going.

“Epsom is there for him, but the French Derby is another option if he doesn’t stay. He has got plenty of speed and you do need that at Epsom, to act round the track and to get a position”.

* Witch One showed enough when finishing fourth in the bumper at Market Rasen yesterday to suggest a similar race will come her way before long. The six-year-old mare was brought to challenge off the home turn by Lucy Horner and held every chance at that stage of the race. Inexperience and a lack of a previous run then took their toll in the closing stages as she faded out of contention. This was still a pretty good effort from Witch One, who is sure to know more about the game next time.