IT WOULD be a lot to ask for Richards Hannon and Hughes to replicate their nine winners apiece from the Glorious Goodwood of 2010, but Strong Suit helped the all-conquering team make the perfect start to this year's meeting with an effortless win in the bet365 Lennox Stakes.

A breathing operation was credited with the reason for the chestnut's abrupt return to form in last month's Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the performance hardly condemned when he finished a narrow third in a subsequent outing in the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

Although taking on older horses over his favoured trip of seven furlongs, this was essentially a drop down in class for the 5-2 favourite and that conclusion had to be drawn with Hughes barely moving a muscle as he defeated Red Jazz by a length and a half.

Collingbourne handler Hannon said: "The first time he ran at Newbury in the Greenham we were very disappointed, but we put the overhead camera on him and you could see his throat closing.

"That was sorted out and we worked him one day at Kempton with (top miler) Canford Cliffs and he worked so well we took our chance at Ascot and he won.

"He only got beaten a head and a nose in a Group One the other day and the Prix de la Foret might be the race for him.

"Canford Cliffs didn't make him look ordinary - this is a good horse."

Hannon's son, Richard junior, offered the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury as another option while Hughes added: "When he's good, he's very good.

"Something upset him in France the last day, he was never at ease going to the start. I asked one of the guys if he got stung in the parade ring as he got very worked up, but I knew straight away he was a different horse."

Moustache's later success in the Casino At Bet365 EBF 'Assertive' Maiden Stakes made the day even better for Hannon and Hughes, the 6-1 shot appropriately beating the newcomer Llanarmon Lad by a nose.

Hannon's Canford Cliffs goes up against 2000 Guineas winner Frankel in today's feature race, the Qipco Sussex Stakes.

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