Ivawood 'moving great' ahead of Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot

Views from connections ahead of the opening contest on the second day of Royal Ascot, the Jersey Stakes.

Richard Hannon expects Ivawood to make the most of having his sights lowered in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

One of last season's leading juveniles after winning the July Stakes at Newmarket and the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, Ivawood disappointed on his reappearance in the Greenham at Newbury but has since finished third in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas behind Gleneagles.

Instead of taking on Ballydoyle's leading three-year-old once more in the St James's Palace Stakes, Ivawood instead drops back in distance against lesser rivals in Wednesday's seven-furlong opener and will be a hot favourite to get back on the winning trail.

Hannon said: "Ivawood deserves another win, having twice finished third to an exceptional colt in Gleneagles.

"There is no doubt Ivawood does stay the mile, but he also has explosive pace so dropping back to seven furlongs seemed a more sensible route rather than going into a third tough battle with Gleneagles.

"We have the penalty to carry from last year, but he has been moving great at home and hopeful, Ivawood will get back on track before heading to France for the Prix Maurice de Gheest."

The champion trainer also saddles Tupi, who filled the runner-up spot in the Free Handicap before returning to the Rowley Mile to win a Listed prize last month.

"Tupi is a decent colt in his own right. He ran a corker in the Free Handicap and then duly delivered in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket. He deserves his place in the field," the trainer told his website www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.

The Charlie Hills-trained Dutch Connection was another horse left trailing in the wake of Gleneagles in the Guineas, finishing seventh.

The three-year-old has not been seen since and Chris Richardson, managing director for part-owners Cheveley Park Stud, is keen to find out what his most suitable trip is going forward.

"He ran a very good race in the Guineas. He was going very well into the dip alongside Gleneagles and just didn't quite get home on the day," said Richardson.

"We're coming back to a stiff seven furlongs and it's a fact-finding mission as much as anything and will tell us whether we need to be coming back in trip or whether he can step back up to a mile.

"Ivawood is clearly a big threat, so it's not going to be easy, but these races at Royal Ascot never are."

Fanciful Angel is an outsider for Marco Botti, despite having run a good race when filling the runner-up spot behind Karpino in the German 2000 Guineas.

Botti said: "It's a tough race, but he ran a good race in the German Guineas and a stiff seven furlongs should not be an issue for him.

"The ground should be fine and while it is a very competitive race, there is not much else for him, so we're taking a chance."

The Irish challenge is made up by the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Sir Isaac Newton and Father Frost, Willie McCreery's Devonshire and the Toscanini from Mick Halford's yard.

Devonshire and Toscanini both carry the blue of Godolphin and McCreery is hopeful the former will give a good account of herself after finishing an excellent third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

"It will be tough taking on the colts and Ivawood is the standout, but she'll be getting 8lb from him," said McCreery.

"She's been in good form since the Guineas, and is a lovely filly. Nothing seems to faze her."

Toscanini chased home Gleneagles in last season's National Stakes and made a winning return at Navan before finishing third behind Anthem Alexander in the Lacken Stakes at Naas.

Speaking on his website www.michaelhalford.com, the trainer said: "We had the choice of the Commonwealth Cup but the Jersey looks the right race for him.

"He wasn't suited by the ground conditions on his latest run at Naas, but before that run, he won well at Navan.

"He loves fast ground and we think he'll run a nice race.

"It's worth remembering he has some top-notch form as a two-year-old and he's been placed at the Royal meeting last year when only finding one too good in the Chesham."

The William Haggas-trained Hathal turns out 11 days after winning a Lingfield maiden and carries the colours of Al Shaqab Racing in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

The owner's racing manager Harry Herbert said: "It is a tough ask for Hathal. He is a very nice horse and finished second behind Consort in what was probably the hottest maiden run at Newmarket .

"He is in very good form and we were delighted with his comeback. He won that very cosily and now is the time to see what we have got."

The Barry Hills-trained Fadhayyil, Mick Channon's Bossy Guest and Wesley Ward's American challenger Luck Of The Kitten are other contenders in a 16-strong field.