Richard Hannon will launch a double assault on the Group 2 Betfred Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday and the trainer has warned punters not to discount the yard's supposed second string Libranno.
Ollie McDowell's four-year-old will join high-class stablemate and general 2-1 favourite Strong Suit in the ten-runner contest and Hannon said his Lennox Stakes second has the potential to upstage his rivals.
Libranno finished second behind the smart Chachamaidee in the Group 3 bet365 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time out but the mare will not be in opposition at Newbury as she was withdrawn on Friday morning after not eating up.
Hannon, who has won the race twice in last ten years with Reel Buddy (2002) and Paco Boy (2008), said: "The owners [Qatar Racing Limited] are obviously very keen to win a Group 1 with Strong Suit but the weather has continually messed things up, which has been frustrating.
"Strong Suit floats along over fast ground and, while we all have fingers crossed that he might yet get a place at the top table later on, this is a valuable Group 2 which looks tailor-made for him. Unless the heavens open, he should get close to good ground, which will be okay.
"He put Chachamaidee in her place in the Challenge Stakes over this trip at Newmarket last backend and on that form he would be the one they all have to beat," said Hannon, quoted on his website.
"However, don't rule out Libranno. He is less ground dependent than Strong Suit and, though he is officially rated 13lb inferior, he has proved himself a solid Group 2 horse over the last three seasons and his last run at Goodwood suggests he is as good as ever."
The pair will face some worthy opponents, not least Summer Mile Stakes second Pastoral Player and Godolphin's Soul, who stormed clear to land the Group 2 Hackwood Stakes at the track last month.
He will be running over the trip for just the second time in his career and trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "I think that Soul will be fine racing over seven furlongs and he has been in very good form this year.
"He has run well on all types of ground and he has the class to run a big race in a Group 2 contest."
