Cox content with heading straight to Ascot with Coppull

Clive Cox is happy to head straight to Royal Ascot with Coppull after he was a late absentee from Saturday’s Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

The Richmond Stakes winner, who stated his Commonwealth Cup credentials when making a winning return in the Pavilion Stakes earlier this month, was one of the leading names in the Haydock Group Two that often serves as a key trial for the Royal meeting’s feature sprint for the three-year-olds.

However, after the action was switched to the well-used inner track after a hole was discovered on the intended outer track, Cox withdrew his talented speedster a non-runner and will now focus fully on preparing the son of Bated Breath for an outing at the summer showpiece and a race he has won previously with Golden Horde.

“I’m really happy with him and he’s in a very good place to go straight to Ascot,” said Cox.

“When they switched the race back to the inside track it was unsuitable for the conditions we were looking for and it was a simple decision to make him a non-runner.

“He’s in excellent form and proved that in his comeback run in the Pavilion and we’re more than happy to go straight back to Ascot. He’s shown he acts well on the track there and we’re looking forward to the Commonwealth Cup.”

While Coppull missed out on a run, stablemate James’s Delight finished an honourable third to Comanche Brave in defence of his Greenlands Stakes crown at the Curragh, leaving Cox optimistic for the rest of the season.

He added: “I think we were beaten by an exceptional horse, but we know our horse clearly enjoys conditions at the Curragh, he’s run very admirably once again and he’s back home safe and sound.”