Does anyone actually believe anything other than he actually retired about 5 years ago?!? Biggest non-news story of the year, in my opinion. Since then Junior has well and truly had his hand on the tiller and, in reality, been completely in control. Old boy Hannon has a perfectly good career in his own right but I think its insulting our intelligence to suggest heâs had anywhere near the same sort of control over his barn in the past 5 years that he had in the previous 35 terms. Itâs no coincidence that since around 2008/09 the quality of horses and owners attracted to the yard has shot through the roof and so has the standard of races won. Meanwhile, for yonks now the media have been scuttling in the direction of Junior rather than old boy Hannon both pre and post race for the simple reason that Junior is the one that Knows with a capital âKâ. Donât expect any changes now that Juniorâs name will be âover the doorâ and the transition in the yard should be as seamless as when Mr Cameron assumed the leadership of the Party back in â05.
Undeniably a top-class trainer, even if not quite at the top table. What he achieved in his early years was very impressive, and his Guineas victories with Don't Forget Me and Tirol made us remember you don't have to be a Sheikh or Coolmore to win big races. He has not been so healthy for the last half-dozen years and I'm sure it's that fact that has led to his taking a step back recently and taking a bigger step back now. I've always liked the fact that he got his horses to run. He gets his 2yos out and they know their business, and they go on. He has a great team and I think Steve Knight is an important cog in the Herridge wheel (met him when he was a tiny 15yo and considering becoming an apprentice (I think with Scobie Breasley)). I'm sure it's such a seamless change as you say, and I'm sure it's been planned that way, and I'll say all the better for it. I dislike the talk of a knighthood because it only makes the Hern affair look even worse for the Queen. If he gets an award it should be whatever Hern got, no more. I hope his son is half as good, and wish him well.
