Sunday 24th May 2009
Cox speedster Jimmy on upgrade
Jimmy Styles runs out the winner of the Victor Chandler handicap on May 24
TRAINER Clive Cox has the Wokingham handicap on his mind for Jimmy Styles, an eye-catching winner of the Victor Chandler handicap.
Jockey Philip Robinson was always in touch aboard the 3/1 favourite and had the leader Thebes in his sights approaching the final furlong.
Robinson kicked on to hit the front as they sped out of the Dip and raced away through the closing strides with Everymanforhimself chasing him home.
Cox said: “We’ve had a few niggles with him but I’ve always held him in high regard. He’s still a bit babyish but will have learnt a lot today and will go for the Wokingham (at Royal Ascot) now.”
The Richard Hannnon camp also have the Royal meeting on their mind for Angel’s Pursuit, who swept to victory in the Newmarket Day Centre Maiden Stakes.
The half-brother to Shadwell Middle Park Stakes winner Dark Angel was green in the preliminaries, but the penny dropped as he drew away from Mijas Playa to land the Newmarket Day Centre maiden by two and a half lengths.
"He breezed very well when we bought him and he's still a green horse," said Richard Hannon jnr, assistant to his father.
"Ascot will suit him and he'll go for the Norfolk or the Windsor Castle Stakes."
On a day when Royal Ascot was on the minds of several trainers, John Gosden could have a contender for the Hampton Court Stakes in the shape of Doctor Crane, who took the East Anglian Air Ambulance handicap.
Owned by his wife Rachel Hood, Gosden’s wife was taken down the far rail by jockey Jimmy Fortune away from the main bunch. Hyades led the rest into the final furlong but Doctor Crane wore him down for a 9/1 triumph.
Gosden said: “We might have a crack at the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot now."
Newmarket-based Gosden suffered a reverse in the Countryside Alliance maiden as his odds-on shot Euston Square could only finish third to 16/1 newcomer Adoring.
The Paul Howling-trained White Shift ran out a 13/2 winner of the European Breeders’ Fund Fillies’ handicap and the concluding ncrd.co.uk handicap went the way of Cheap Thrills.
Newmarket’s season resumes next month with the action switching to the July Course, which stages it first fixture of 2009 on Friday June 19.
Tomy Rushmer
