Keep an eye on the Fox

Paul Nicholls capped another memorable season with a treble on the final day of the campaign at Sandown, including Grade 1 success for Greaneteen in the Celebration Chase. Team Ditcheat were unfortunate not to capture the Bet365 Gold Cup, too, with Enrilo crossing the line in front only to be placed third in the subsequent stewards' enquiry having hung across the track on the run-in interferring with the fast finishing Kitty's Light in the process. While the stewards made the correct decision, the Nicholls runner should never have got in that position. He jumped and travelled like the best horse in the race but gave the opposition a sniff when making a mistake at the second last. Still in front at the last, the seven year old idled in front on the run-in and shifted left causing interference. It is the twelfth time Paul Nicholls has been crowned champion trainer.

Due to the prevailing dry weather, it is fast ground everywhere at the moment and the field sizes on the Flat have been disappointing small in recent weeks. The Talking Trainers section in Ahead On The Flat continues to churm out the winners with Dhushan (1/5), Highwaygrey (11/1), Irish Admiral (30/100), Jaramillo (9/4), Skyrunner (11/2) and Staxton (5/1) all scoring on Saturday.

Despite only finishing third at Haydock, I suggest readers continue to follow Fox Champion. Highlighted as one to follow in AOTF (page 115), the former German 2000 Guineas was having his first start for Ralph Beckett in the one mile handicap at the Merseyside track. Once rated 110, the son of Kodiac has dropped to a mark of 95 having endured a lean four year old campaign in 2020. Transferred from Richard Hannon's stable and gelded during the winter, he stayed on well in the closing stages and would have been closer with a clearer passage. Positioned on the far rail, Hector Crouch was looking to pull his mount out with a couple of furlongs to run but was short of room and, in the meantime, Persuasion got first run and that proved vital. Only beaten a length, Fox Champion is handicapped to win a good prize this summer. He could be one for something like the Buckingham Palace Stakes or Royal Hunt Cup (ran in the race last year when rated 107) at Royal Ascot or the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket (10th July). While he stays a mile, he has enough speed for a stiff seven furlongs. Don't lose faith in the King Power Racing owned gelding - form is temporary, class is permanent.