RICHARD Hannon hopes to build on his lead in the British Trainers’ Championship when he takes a strong team to next week’s Glorious Goodwood.

Hannon, who already boasts more than 130 winners and £2million in prize money paraded some of his Sussex runners in front of the media at his Herridge yard on Tuesday.

Sending a strong team of around 40, Hannon aims to be leading trainer there for the third consecutive year, having sent out nine winners so far this season, more than double the number of any of his rivals.

Hannon is having a season to remember with star milers Canford Cliffs, Paco Boy and Dick Turpin, while his two-year-olds are sweeping all before them.

Canford Cliffs is set to take on older horses in the £300,000 Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood next Tuesday with stablemate Dick Turpin.

Fancied for the 2,000 Guineas, Canford Cliffs failed to settle and finished a place behind his stable companion in third.

Connections retained their faith and he secured an impressive win in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, then the St James Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Hannon made no secret of his faith in the colt to the Gazette saying: “He’s a lovely horse and could turn out to be one of the best I have ever trained.”

On his chances in the Sussex Stakes, Hannon added: “We have got to take on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Rip Van Winkle, but we get a weight allowance and it’s the right time of the year to try it.

“It’s a different track but I think both horses will handle it all right.’’ The five-day meeting gets under way next Tuesday with Hannon’s Zebedee primed for the Group 3 Betfair Molecamb Stakes.

The two-year-old made a good impression by winning on his debut at Windsor before finishing fifth in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He then won Sandown’s Listed Dragon Stakes by a length and a quarter from The Thrill Is Gone.

Also on the opening day, the yard runs Pausanias in the Lawrence Dallaglio Maiden and is enthusiastic about the youngster, owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Richard Hannon junior, his father’s assistant trainer, said: “He will improve for his first run, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he won. I think he will go very close.”

Others to watch could be Libranno in the Richmond Stakes, King Torus and Casual Glimpse in the Veuve Cliquot Vintage Stakes, the Queen-owned Free Agent in the one mile six furlong handicap on the first day and Oratory who runs in Wednesday’s Classified Stakes.

Looking a picture in the paddock, and impressive scorching up the all-weather gallops, was the stable’s big-money earner Paco Boy.

“He’s a great favourite in the yard and seems to improve every time he runs.” said the trainer.

“In fact he’s so well he bit one of the photographers who happened to leave his arm on the stable door.

Paco Boy misses Goodwood and will be aimed at a race in France.”

Hannon has been training since 1970 when he took over the licence on the retirement of his father Henry.

Originally he trained just from stables at East Everleigh, but due to an increase in his string to around 200, he also has the nearby Herridge base, where he lives.