Producer looks the pick of Hannon trio in Criterion Stakes

Richard Hannon’s Producer blotted his copybook in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom last month when he was mulish at the start before running far too freely behind Gregorian.

Jockey Richard Hughes gave up the unequal struggle over half a mile from home and let him bowl on but he had nothing left in the final stages of the race. The chestnut had won on all four previous visits to Epsom and defeated Queen Anne Stakes runner-up Aljamaaheer at Leicester in April.

Hannon also runs last year’s winner Libranno who hinted at a return to form at Royal Ascot last week. Pat Cosgrave rode him into a respectable sixth place behind Declaration Of War and that followed a fair fourth at Haydock. Hannon’s third representative, The Taj, is the only three-year-old in the race but will have to improve to get involved here.

Two lengths ahead of him that day was Hughie Morrison’s Pastoral Player who was unlucky not to catch Amarillo after suffering interference. The six-year-old gelding is a real seven-furlong specialist and can be expected to deliver his usual late challenge.

One of the most interesting contenders is the Scottish-trained Hawkeyethenoo. Jim Goldie’s seven-year-old has been running in the top sprint races this season and has been performing well. He was unlucky not to finish closer when fourth in the Duke Of York Stakes and was again noted running on late in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes last weekend. He has won over this trip before and there is every indication that he may need it at this stage of his career.

Red Jazz was third at Haydock and will probably be in the firing line early on whilst Sir Michael Stoute’s Ultrasonic got no run at all behind Thistle Bird at Epsom last month. Ryan Moore eventually had to switch to the outside and she did well to finish less than five lengths off the winner.

Cocozza and Instance make up the field and both be receiving over a stone from the market leaders if this were a handicap.