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‘I’d like to think we are working back from the Guineas’

Richard Hannon still has Classic ambitions for Threat  despite his defeat at Goodwood last week.

The Footstepsinthesand colt looked every inch a high-class juvenile in the making after a winning debut at Newmarket in May and lost little in defeat when touched off by Aidan O'Brien's Arizona in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was strongly fancied to get back on the winning trail in the Richmond Stakes, but had to make do with the runner-up spot once more behind the Clive Cox-trained Golden Horde.

Hannon said: "I was disappointed he didn't win at Goodwood as I think the world of the horse, but they did finish clear of the third. He was dragged over from stall one over to that stands rail and that probably didn't help.

"I'd like to think we are working back from the 2000 Guineas with this horse, though.

"Staying at six furlongs might be the answer for this year. Whether he goes to the Gimcrack at York or the Prix Morny at Deauville next, we will just have to wait and see."

Another juvenile for whom Hannon held high hopes at Goodwood was Mystery Power.

Having already won the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, the No Nay Never colt was expected to play a leading role in a hot renewal of the Vintage Stakes, but trailed home a well-beaten sixth of seven runners.

He said: "He came back after the Vintage and scoped wrong, so that would explain the poor run.

"We might just wait for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster with him. He will have a 3lb penalty, but we won the Superlative and the Champagne with Estidhkaar."