Timeform Notebook: Hannon's colt has plenty in hand

Richard Hannon's Pether's Moon went close at Salisbury

Timeform look back over the weekend's action and identify a horse worth following in the future...

There were many eye-catching performances on an action-packed weekend at Newmarket, but it is to Salisbury where we head to bring you the latest Notebook entrant. Sky Lantern's 1000 Guineas victory on the Rowley Mile was the obvious highlight for the Hannon team, but they went extremely close to landing a treble at Salisbury as Fig Roll and Fleeting Smile both prevailed, while the unexposed Pether's Moon was narrowly touched off in a red-hot looking handicap, shaping like a horse ahead of its mark with the potential for better to come.

Pether's Moon looked like a well-treated horse prior to his handicap debut at Salisbury, entering the contest with some strong maiden form to his name, notably a close-up second behind Godolphin's Secret Number, and he created a good impression in defeat, narrowly failing to overhaul Swing Easy, going down by a head.

Swing Easy took a few lengths out of the field as he kicked for home with just under half a mile to run and it is worth noting that Pether's Moon was the only horse capable of laying down a serious challenge to Robert Mills's progressive performer. There is nothing to suggest that Swing Easy was flattered - it looked as if he kicked for home plenty soon enough - but it was encouraging to see the lightly raced and relatively inexperienced Pether's Moon knuckle down and finish his race so strongly, seeming to relish the 10-furlong trip he was trying for the first time.

It will be interesting to see how the handicapper assesses the performance but the feeling is that Pether's Moon has entered this sphere on an extremely fair mark and, as he is still progressing, may have a bit in hand for a while yet.

Timeform Notebook:

Jamaican Bolt - Of interest in five-furlong handicaps with cut in the ground.
Mombasa - Of interest in handicaps, particularly if stepped up to one and a half miles.
Loving Spirit - One to note in seven furlong or one-mile handicaps.
Border Legend - Remains unexposed and one to bear in mind for handicaps.
Galileo Rock - A strong stayer who can make an impact at Group level when the emphasis is on stamina.
Pether's Moon - An unexposed, progressive three-year-old that started life in handicaps on a good mark.

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