Trumpet Major strikes a blow with decisive victory in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket

By Marcus Townend for the Daily Mail

Published: 12:42 EST, 19 April 2012 | Updated: 13:21 EST, 19 April 2012

Richard Hannon-trained Trumpet Major laid down a marker for next month's Qipco 2,000 Guineas but his Craven Stakes success from stablemate Crius left more questions hanging in the air of what might have been had ante-post favourite Most Improved been able to take part.

In recording a five-length victory, Trumpet Major struck a blow for the established order.

The Ryan Moore-ridden colt, who completed a 132-1 treble for trainer Richard Hannon who was also successful with Tassel and Rougemont, had won last season' s Group Two Champagne Stakes and finished fifth to Parish Hall in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

His success under a 3lb penalty crushed the Classic aspirations of the unproven talents of ultimately unplaced Beaufort Twelve, Born To Surprise, Forgotten Hero and Mighty Surprise.

But, without the Brian Meehan-trained Most Improved, who was scratched after being lame in the morning, the race lost some of its lustre.

Most Improved had finished just over half a length in front of Trumpet Major in the Dewhurst and, having been a plunge horse for the 2,000 Guineas in the last few weeks, his absence robbed punters of a chance to assess the improvement that has prompted the significant support.

Trumpet Major, who had not looked to be going well early in the Craven, certainly split the bookmakers. 

Coral assessing him as a solid performer who has proved himself fit and in form were most impressed by making him 6-1. However, Ladbrokes are 12-1, having shortened up Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten Camelot to 6-4.

The Hannon team's No 1 Guineas hope Harbour Watch is sidelined by injury but Richard Hannon jnr, assistant trainer to his father, said: 'Trumpet Major did that very well under a 3lb penalty. I wasn't sure he'd like the ground and he'll have needed it but he'll have to take his chance in the Guineas now.

'This horse is more than capable of taking Harbour Watch's place while Crius will probably miss the English Guineas and tip-toe around Europe.' 

The Hannon team could have another string to their 2,000 Guineas bow by the end of Saturday with Hannon jnr predicting a big run from Bronterre, the Dewhurst fourth, in Saturday's Aon Greenham Stakes at Newbury which will be run on heavy ground.

Who rides him will depend on the outcome of Friday's appeal by Hannon's stable jockey Richard Hughes into the BHA's decision to uphold the 50-day penalty imposed by the Indian stewards, for failing to ride to pre-race instructions.

The BHA turned down a first request to at least reduce the suspension on the grounds that India has not signed up fully to international agreements between national racing bodies.

That has proved costly at the Craven Meeting with Hughes missing Wednesday's Nell Gwyn Stakes win of Esentepe and, possibly, yesterday's £250,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-0 Stakes win of Rougemont in addition to Trumpet Major.

Meanwhile, Meehan is hoping the lame steps of Most Improved are merely down to a soft-tissue muscle injury, giving him a chance of still making the 2,000 Guineas on May 5.

Meehan said: 'He was only about one tenth lame. He has had an X-ray and I am hoping it is just a soft tissue injury in his shoulder. He will have a bone scan on Friday and we will go from there.'

Rooney hat-trick

Wayne Rooney has expanded his string of racehorses to three in the Cheshire stable owned by his Manchester United teammate Michael Owen. Rooney has paid £63,600 for the two-year-old filly Pippy to add to Switcharooney (£63,000) and Tomway (£15,900). They are trained by Tom Dascombe.

May target

Richard Fahey has the Duke Of York Stakes on the agenda for his Abernant Stakes winner Mayson and John Gosden could take Questoning to Chester's May meeting after he edged out Twice Over by a head in the Earl of Sefton Stakes.

Golden touch

Denise Lewis, gold medallist in the heptathlon at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, can start dreaming of Royal Ascot after she made a successful first venture into racehorse ownership when Hannon-trained two-year filly Tassel won on her debut in the NGK Spark Plus Maiden Filly Stakes.

Lewis has shares in four horses that run in the blue silks of Highclere Thoroughbred racing.