Coppull on course for Richmond test

Clive Cox is relishing the opportunity to unleash Coventry Stakes third Coppull in the Markel Richmond Stakes, as he seeks a third success in the Qatar Goodwood Festival contest.

The Lambourn handler landed back-to-back victories of the Group Two event with Supremacy and Golden Horde respectively in 2019 and 2020 and has bided his time with his latest candidate after the son of Bated Breath outran odds of 66-1 at Royal Ascot.

“I was really pleased with his effort in the Coventry and I just wanted to give him a little bit of time as he’s still developing,” said Cox.

“He’s done nothing but please so far and this is another big step, but we really like him.

“It’s nice to be heading to these races with horses in form.”

Cox is well known for his exploits in the juvenile division and has another smart youngster on his hands in the form of A Bit Of Spirit, who may have lost his unbeaten record when touched off in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes on Friday but left Ascot with his reputation enhanced.

“I’m very happy and he’s come out the race well and he’s another highly regarded horse we are happy is heading the right way,” continued Cox.

“On a big, wide open track it would have been nice if the winner (Time To Turn) had come a bit closer to us in the finish, but William (Buick, winning rider) knew exactly what he was doing and we were witness to that at Newbury first time out.

“He (A Bit Of Spirit) gets seven furlongs as well, we’ll just give him a few days before we figure out what we do. He’s a very pleasing two-year-old who we hope keeps going.”