Commanding performance from Toormore Toormore provided Middleham Park Racing with their first Group 1 winner as the unbeaten colt made all to give Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes their first success in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. Hughes was able to dictate matters from the front on the son of a Arakan, and the evens favourite was well in control in the final furlong to beat Sudirman by two and three quarter lengths. Giovanni Boldini could only keep on at one pace to finish a further length and a quarter adrift in third. The field was reduced to just five runners as Fiscal Focus (nasal discharge) and Wilshire Boulevard (ground) were both absentees. Tim Palin, racing manager of Middleham Park Racing, said “We weren’t sure what pace there would be in the race but as it turned out he got a fairly uncontested lead. “He has a great attitude and the further he goes the better he is. He’s in the Racing Post Trophy but will not run again this season. He’s a very clean-winded horse, and could go straight for the Guineas next year. Richard Hughes said, “The track is wide open and windy, and it’s difficult for two-year-olds. He’s a big shell of a horse, and is not a precocious two-year-old by any means.” Paddy Power cut Toormore into 10/1 (from 16’s) for next year’s 2,000 Guineas, while Ladbrokes go 12/1. Stan James were more impressed and go just 7/1 (from 14’s) behind their 5/1 favourite Kingman.
