Fahey and Hanagan target double victory in Scotland (From York Press)

Fahey and Hanagan target double victory in Scotland

11:16am Wednesday 18th July 2012 in Horse racing By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

Malton trainer Richard Fahey and his long-time stable jockey Paul Hanagan team up in Scotland tomorrow.

The pair were reunited in memorable style at Nemarket last Saturday when they won the Group 1 Darley July Cup with runaway winner Mayson.

Sparkling Portrait, already twice a winner this season, goes for the featured Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton tomorrow as he aims to put behind him a dreadfully unlucky run at Royal Ascot last month.

The strapping Musley Bank colt was picking up ground early in the straight when he appeared to clip heels.

Stumbling badly, he all but unseated Hanagan, who did a miraculous job of keeping the partnership intact.

Rallying inside the final furlong, Sparkling Portrait stayed on strongly to finish seventh, beaten by little more than three lengths.

Tomorrow’s £35,000 event sees Sparkling Portrait step out of handicap company and into a Listed event.

Although he has a few pounds to find with one or two rivals, he is expected to make a bold bid.

Fahey and Hanagan also have good prospects of winning the opening Irish Stallion Farms Maiden Stakes with Ginger Goose.

The juvenile shaped with a deal of promise on his debut at Doncaster to finish second.

He may not have to improve much on that performance to go one better this time.

The totepool.com Handicap offers King Of Paradise the chance to extend his winning sequence.

Preston trainer Eric Alston has placed the three-year-old to win his last two races in the style of a progressive campaigner.

It would be no surprise to see him oblige again.

At Doncaster’s evening meeting, four previous debut winners meet in the Stobart Novice Stakes.

The pick of the quartet may well be Tickle Time, trained by David Barron and an impressive and well-backed winner at Ayr last month.

He looks a a useful horse in the making and under these conditions he is fancied to have the edge over Secret Look, Unsinkable and Elle Woods.

David O’Meara may hold the key to the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Conditions Stakes.

The Nawton trainer saddles Madam Macie, who ran out a decisive eight lengths winner at Hamilton last time out.

This race offers a tougher test, but Madam Macie is clearly in great heart.

Pompeia should be hard to beat in the Saint Gobain Weber Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, the two-year-old went down by only three-parts of a length on her debut at Newbury.

She only needs to fulfil that promise to come out on top here. Jim Crowley has the mount.

 

Racing selections

Hamilton (tomorrow)

2.00 Ginger Goose, 2.30 Colonel Mak, 3.00 Sir Quintin, 3.30 King Of Paradise, 4.00 Sparkling Portrait (NAP), 4.30 Alpha Tauri, 5.00 Pontoon.

Doncaster (tomorrow)

6.20 Boga, 6.50 Pompeia, 7.25 Tickle Time, 7.55 Madam Macie, 8.30 New Hampshire, 9.00 Dorry K.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Bath, Brighton, Epsom and Leicester.

Today’s meetings: Catterick, Lingfield, Sandown, Uttoxeter and Worcester.