Paco Boy shines at Sandown – Glorious Goodwood Horseracing Festival

Richard Hannon jnr firmly believes Paco Boy will be hard to beat this season after he started the campaign in effortless style by sweeping away the opposition in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown.

Last year's winner of the Group Two event progressed to score in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but was roughed off after his mid-summer Sussex Stakes second in preparation for his five-year-old campaign.

The 11-10 favourite looked a cut above in the parade ring before the field headed to post and he cruised into contention on the outside under Richard Hughes.

After snatching the lead passing the furlong marker, Hughes was little more than an onlooker as his willing partner stretched over three lengths clear of international campaigner Pressing.

Hannon jnr, son and assistant to his father Richard, said: 'I just spoke to Dad on the phone and he agreed with me that the horse is definitely better this year.

'He will go to the Lockinge now and I wish that race had been today as he was so well. He's been gasping for a race for the last six to eight weeks and he kicked two windows out of his box as he's so fresh.

'I think he will struggle to find one to beat him after today.

'After the Lockinge there are races like the Queen Anne and the Jacques le Marios and connections are looking at all sorts of races in all sorts of places.'

The colours of Ballymacoll Stud were successful in the Bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes for the second year running as Glass Harmonium followed up stablemate Tartan Bearer's 2009 win under Ryan Moore.

Another to strike at Royal Ascot, the Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old made giant strides under the champion jockey - who was sporting a black eye after being hit by a piece of turf in the previous race - and the 11-1 chance displayed plenty of heart to hold the determined Redwood by a head.

Stoute said: 'He was a little bit behind schedule in early March so he will have needed the run and there may be more than normal progress from this.

'He's a horse we've always liked and I hope he can really go on and progress.

'He will stay a mile and a half but we won't go down that route at the moment and the Tattersalls Gold Cup is a race that springs to mind.'

Luca Cumani had jetted off to saddle Presvis in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup in Hong Kong and missed his Mabait making it four wins on the bounce in the hands of Kieren Fallon in the Poker At bet365.com Handicap.

Cumani's son, Matt, said: 'This was a sighter to see how he had come on and he has obviously come on a lot.

'It looks like he will get further but a mile will be fine for him for now.'

Adam Kirby ensured the Flat riders were not beaten at their own game by lifting the Casino At bet365.com Flat v Jump Jockeys Handicap.

The annual clash between the stars of each code is always the subject of plenty of weighing room banter but Kirby had the right ammunition on his side in Halsion Chancer (8-1), a workmate of John Best's 2000 Guineas hope Inler.

Best's assistant Martin Smith said: 'It's a bit of a boost for Inler - the horse has worked with him two or three times.

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Silver Birch spruced up for Aintree repeat : Royal Ascot 2010

Hopes are increasing that Silver Birch can become the first horse since Red Rum to win a second Royal Ascot Festival. It is 36 years since the great Aintree warrior notched his second success in the race that he came to dominate like no other. 'Rummy' then went on to take an historic third National in 1977, but there has not been a multiple winner since.

Clearly, nobody is suggesting Silver Birch is another Red Rum, but in the modern context, he comes close to being the perfect type for the gruelling 4½-mile contest, and on Tuesday, trainer Gordon Elliott welcomed news that the 13-year-old had been elevated to No 41 on the list of confirmations for Saturday’s big race.

Three weeks ago, Elliott was bemoaning the fact that his 2008 National winner looked like missing the cut. He made the not unreasonable recommendation that past winners of the race should be seeded entries, which is something the Aintree executive would be advised to consider at their annual overview in coming weeks.

Horses have dropped by the wayside recently, which now leaves Silver Birch only one away from getting into the 40-capacity field. He is currently a 66-1 chance, but that price will shrink with confirmation that he has gained a place in the field. He could be a solid each-way chance, particularly on Elliott’s reports of the gelding’s home work this week, and with his light weight of 10st 5lb.

“He’s in great form. We worked him this morning and he did it well,” Elliott said. “The day before, we erected a special National fence at home and he really loved it. He should be in his element returning to Aintree. Robbie Power will ride him again on Saturday,” the trainer confirmed.

Punters would be best advised to forget Silver Birch’s last run, at Cheltenham in the Cross Country last month, when he was beaten 57 lengths. He lasted a long way in the Festival novelty race, and seems to have been brought to his peak for this weekend.

Elliott had a similar message regarding stablemate and 25-1 chance Backstage, who was beaten 81 lengths on heavy ground at Navan at the end of last month. The distance (2½ miles) and the going were both against the eight-year-old. “On faster, better ground, he will be much better. Dry ground is the key to him, and if it were to come up soft, then he would be doubtful to run,” the trainer pointed out.

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