Threat & Mums Tipple on course for the Guineas

Richard Hannon has issued positive reports on his two main Guineas contenders, both sons of Footstepsinthesand.

The Marlborough handler has earmarked the Group Three Craven Stakes as a potential starting point for Threat (3c Footstepsinthesand - Flare Of Firelight, by Birdstone), who is as short as 16-1 for the opening Classic of the season. Threat (Timeform rating 114) highlighted his talents last year with Group Two wins in the Gimcrack at York (pictured) and Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

He said: "We are extremely happy with how he has done over the winter. Physically he has grown up and mentally he has grown up, which he needed to do because he got a little bit restless at times last year. A lot of the good two-year-old form revolves around him.

"As he has already been to Newmarket and won his maiden there and handled it, we might go for the Craven, but nothing is set in stone yet."

While Threat has yet to race beyond seven furlongs, Hannon is confident he should have no problem in getting a mile.

"He is by Footstepsinthesand, who was a miler, and we are hopeful he will get the mile - and we think he will.

"He is very relaxed, which gives him every chance of getting the trip.

"Charlie's (Appleby) horse Pinatubo will be a hard horse to beat in the Guineas, but you can't run away from one horse - and Threat is in very good nick."

Hannon believes impressive York sales race winner Mums Tipple (3c Footstepsinthesand - Colomone Cross, by Xaar) could be better suited to the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Rated 119 by Timeform last year (only Pinatubo was rated higher) Mums Tipple put up a sensational performance in the Goffs UK Premier Stakes at York winning easily by 11 lengths.

Hannon commented "He has always been a massive horse and didn't really need to do much developing over the winter. We will have a look at a few of the trials for him, but I'm thinking he might be more of an Irish 2,000 Guineas horse. I think a flat track suits him better.”

Footstepsinthesand stands at Castlehyde Stud at a fee of €15,000