Fahey and Hanagan team up for Prix de L’Abbaye tilt (From Gazette & Herald)

Fahey and Hanagan team up for Prix de L’Abbaye tilt

9:39am Saturday 6th October 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

Crack North Yorkshire sprinter Mayson can spark a memorable day in Paris for thousands of British racegoers tomorrow by winning the major sprint on the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe programme at Longchamp, which is one of the major days of the entire European season.

Mayson, trained at Malton by Richard Fahey, lines up for the Group 1 Prix de L’Abbaye – one of six North Yorkshire horses in the field – and is fancied to show a clean pair of heels to his 18 rivals to bring his career to a resounding close before he departs for Newmarket’s Cheveley Park Stud to begin stallion duties this winter.

Already three times a winner at Newmarket this season, Mayson gained his ultimate triumph when taking apart a Group 1 field in the Darley July Cup on heavy ground.

Tomorrow’s easy going, coupled with a perfect draw in stall one, should all aid the cause of Mayson, who will be partnered by Paul Hanagan, who has scored on him no fewer than five times.

Tim Easterby’s admirable Hamish McGonagall and the David Nicholls-trained Inxile are drawn close to Mayson in single-figure stalls, while Robin Bastiman’s Borderlescott, a dual-Nunthorpe winner in his prime, Kevin Ryan’s able Tiddliwinks and last year’s winner Tangerine Trees, trained by Bryan Smart, but not in the same sort of form this term, make up the North Yorkshire challenge.

While Kevin Ryan can expect a decent run from Indian Jade in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere – the race Fahey’s Wootton Bassett won in 2010 – the vote goes to Richard Hannon’s Olympic Glory, already a triple-Group 2 winner.

France can hang on to the Prix Marcel Boussac with Peace Burg, unbeaten in three starts, but Izzi Top, trained by John Gosden at Newmarket, and the winner of the Middleton Stakes at York in May, may prove the answer to the Prix de L’Opera Longines.

Gosden also has a fine chance of figuring in the money in the showpiece Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe with Great Heavens, who has improved out of all recognition this season, and who is proven on soft ground.

This, though, looks a good opportunity for Camelot to resume winning ways after his shock defeat in the St Leger at Doncaster last month when he was bidding to complete the Triple Crown.

The return to a mile-and-a-half should suit Derby hero Camelot, who will have the services of Frankie Dettori.

Back on home soil and it’s Kelso’s first meeting of the campaign, where Red Tyke is napped to win the Betfair Juvenile Hurdle.

A winner on his jumping debut at Market Rasen, Red Tyke, trained by John Quinn, has since scored on the Flat at Hamilton. He looks capable of conceding weight all round in the hands of Jason Maguire.

Recent Sedgefield winner Snooker (2.20) and the fit from the Flat Vittachi (4.35) are two others to note.

 

Racing selections

Longchamp (tomorrow) (selected races)
12.55 Mayson, 1.30 Peace Burg, 2.05 Olympic Glory, 2.40 Izzi Top, 3.25 Camelot.

Kelso (tomorrow)
2.20 Snooker, 2.55 Red Tyke (NAP), 3.35 Midnight Tuesday, 4.05 Bocciani, 4.35 Vittachi, 5.10 Festival King, 5.40 Absolutely Bygones.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Uttoxeter and Huntingdon.

Today’s other meetings: Ascot, Fontwell, Newmarket, Redcar and Wolverhampton.