His stable originally had an entry of 10 for the five-furlong cavalry charge and I don't see many bookmakers offering a price about a horse from the Wiltshire wizard's yard lifting the prize again.
The two likely aces in his pack are Hurricane Alan and Presto Vento. The former is going for a four-timer, having already blown hot by scoring at Brighton, Bath and the Curragh - winning form which stands up to the closest inspection. His Bath win was over Never A Doubt, who went on to finish runner-up in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Presto Vento, sixth in that June set piece, more recently finished a disappointing seventh over the six furlongs of the July Course in Newmarket's Cherry Hinton Stakes.
The longer trip and softish ground may have explained her poor showing that day. With faster ground likely, Presto Vento may return to the early-season form that provided her with a hat-trick, crowned by a triumph in Sandown's National Stakes.
Wunders Dream also comes into calculations. Ex-vet James Given has been waiting with her since the Spring when she won two races over the minimum distance. Night Speed, trained by Brian Meehan, who was once Hannon's right-hand man and therefore must have learnt how to prime a sprint hope, is another to consider. She ran away with a maiden event at Kempton.
