KIEREN FALLON believes Hoof It is “something special” and can make the step up to Group One in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York today.
Trained close to the Knavesmire by Mick Easterby in Sheriff Hutton, the four-year-old has risen through the ranks and has won at York three times as well as landing the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood last time.
He is part-owned by golfing pro Lee Westwood and his agent Andrew ’Chubby’ Chandler and connections stumped up the supplementary fee to add him today’s race. And his jockey thinks he is ready for the step up in class. Fallon said: “He has got a great turn of foot – great speed. The only problem I’ve had in the last three or four races that I’ve won on him was trying to find something to give us a lead.
“I couldn’t believe how much improvement that there was from York to Goodwood.
“The only blip in his copybook was that race at Royal Ascot when he wasn’t himself. He was lifeless that day for some reason.”
Hoof It has to give weight to the fillies in the race and almost two stone to David Wachman’s Molecomb Stakes-winning juvenile Requinto.
Two-year-olds have been done well in the race and Requinto looks a danger to all.
YORK DAY THREE PREDICTIONS: 2pm Crackentorp, 2.30pm Libourne Lad, 3.05pm Western Aristocrat, 3.40pm Requinto, 4.15pm Mizwaaj, 4.50pm Shesastar (NAP).
