Urban Icon impresses at Wolverhampton

Graham Clark
March 7, 2020 4:00 pm

Good Friday looks to be on the cards for Hannon winner.

Urban Icon looks destined for bigger and better things after proving a cut above his rivals on his return in the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton.

Although out of luck in five starts last season, the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old brought some of the strongest form to the table in the seven-furlong Listed prize, having finished eighth in last year’s 2000 Guineas and fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sent off the 2-1 favourite, the son of Cityscape was sent on by Ryan Moore down the home straight with the pair crossing the line three quarters of a length clear of Documenting.

Hannon said: “It worked out lovely for him. He has always been a good horse and Michael Pescod (owner) has been very patient.

“We’ve always liked him and he nearly won a lot of races last year. We put him away after the July meeting for this year.

“He has had a long time off the track, but he has always been a good horse and he showed it there, he got there very easy.

“He got the trip very well. I took him to Kempton last week and Sean Levey rode him and he thought he might need it, so he will come on for it.”

An outing in the mile final on All-Weather Championships Day – for which he was installed as 3-1 joint-favourite by Paddy Power – looks to be on the cards for Urban Icon, with his latest success doubling up as a fast-track qualifier for the Good Friday event at Lingfield.

Hannon added: “We will think about where we go, but he will probably go to Lingfield. It is a massive prize and you wouldn’t get that for winning a Group Two.”