Richard Hannon is still puzzled by Suit defeat

The colt looked a top prospect when winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June but could finish only third to Zoffany on Sunday.

The defeat saw the two-year-old lose his position at the head of the ante-post betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Hannon said today: "We had Strong Suit scoped when he got back from Ireland and he was as clean as a whistle. Maybe something will come to light in the next few days but, while we hate making excuses, he clearly did not run up to his Royal Ascot form as he had beaten Zoffany eight lengths in the Coventry Stakes.

"It could be that Zoffany did not run his race that day and he has now won three times since, so perhaps we have just bumped into a better horse.

"But, having seen Strong Suit's final gallop, I remain convinced that he is better than he looked in Ireland, where he was in trouble before they got to the furlong pole. Strong Suit does not have the electric gear change of Canford Cliffs but for three months now we have thought that he was the best of our 100-plus two-year-olds. Though we have plenty of other good ones, I still find it hard to believe that he is not top of the pile.

"He is entered in both the Middle Park Stakes, the Dewhurst Stakes and also the £400,000 sales race at Doncaster but we'll see how he bounces back."