Richard Hannon’s domination of the National Stakes at Sandown continued this afternoon when his Presto Vento completed her hat-trick in the Listed event.

　　The daughter of first-season sire Air Express had been an impressive winner of her two previous outings at Bath and Salisbury and, despite drifting markedly left handed in the closing stages, ran out a comfortable winner from Northern raider Arran Pilot.

　　Hannon farmed the race in the 1990’s registering five successes, including with the brilliant Lyric Fantasy, and Presto Vento will now bid to emulate her by following up in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

　　With all six runnersshavingswon previously this was the strongest juvenile heat run so far this season and, for all her waywardness in the closing stages, she looks sure to be a major player at the Royal meeting. Whether or not she will be good enough to deal with the best that Ballydoyle have to offer however, is a very different matter indeed.