Richard Hannon

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.

BARNEY Roy was narrowly beaten by Ulysses in the Coral Eclipse and is reported to be in good order ahead of the rematch in the £1million Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.

The Richard Hannon-trained three-year-old was denied by a nose by the year older Ulysses who came with a powerful late run to hit the front 100metres from home and then withstood Barney Roy’s late rally.

Hannon’s charge has yet to finish out of the first two in a five race career that has resulted in three wins, highlighted by success in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes. He had earlier finished second to Churchill in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

Barney Roy is set to face a maximum of six rivals in the extended 10-furlong contest which is the richest race ever run at York and forms part of the Middle Distance category of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

“He hit a few of the undulations at Newmarket and Sandown,” Hannon said. “I think York will suit him immensely because it’s flat and will give him plenty of time for him to get going with his long stride.

“I’d love it if he was the type to go and win by four lengths but he’s not that sort of guy. He always makes it look like he’s struggling but the quicker they go, the quicker he goes. He keeps finding.”

Jockey James Doyle added: “He ran a fantastic race [at Sandown] but my worry beforehand – him being an inexperienced horse on that track – was probably about right.

“Sandown is a very tough track, especially against older horses. York will be much more to his liking and you will see a better performance from him.”

Ulysses followed up on his win in the Eclipse by finishing a good second to Enable in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over one and a half miles at Ascot.

“Ulysses ran a hell of a race on ground he didn’t really like in the King George,” jockey Jim Crowley said. “Enable is a mile and a half horse who loves cut in the ground, whereas my horse obviously does stay a mile and a half but is better on a faster surface and he was giving her a stone that day. Hopefully we will be back on quick ground, plus 10 furlongs and the track should play to his strengths.”

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.