Bring it on – Hannon counting down to Ascot with Rosallion

Richard Hannon believes Rosallion will be a different proposition come the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes and Irish Guineas last season, he was having his first start for the best part of year when third in the Lockinge to Lead Artist.

In fourth was Notable Speech, who beat Rosallion in the 2000 Guineas but finished behind him at Ascot, and the pair look like meeting once again.

“I’m not going to lie, it was a little bit disappointing not to win, but he ran a super race,” Hannon told Sky Sports Racing.

“The reason he got beat in the Guineas last year, it’s because he needs that first run. That was evident last year and even more evident this year now he’s a year older.

“We’re looking forward to Royal Ascot. Sean (Levey) got off and said he’d win the Queen Anne. I spoke to Charlie Appleby afterwards and he said Will (Buick) said he’d win it, so here we go again!

“It will be a fantastic race that we all can’t wait for and he’ll go there full on.

“You can win with horses in two-year-old races who haven’t had a run, but at that level it counts. Some in the Lockinge were having their second or third runs of the year and my fellow was having his first run.

“Naturally ours improve for their first run and horses like him especially so. I’m not saying he’s a certainty, but I’m looking forward to it.”