Varian chasing handicap riches with Raammee after York success

After being delighted with Raammee’s impressive John Smith’s Cup success at York last Saturday, Roger Varian will now seek further handicap riches with his ever-improving four-year-old at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The son of Persian King relished the step up to 10 furlongs when landing the valuable Knavesmire handicap on just his fifth start in the hands of Ray Dawson, a third success in the gelding’s upwardly mobile career.

Raammee was handed an 8lb rise by the handicapper for his York triumph, but the Newmarket handler is hopeful his charge can continue his progress in the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap on the Sussex Downs – a race in which Varian’s Enfjaar was narrowly thwarted when trying to supplement his own John Smith’s Cup success in 2024.

Varian said: “I was delighted with his performance at York and it’s a lovely race to win. We’re very fond of this horse and he is progressing nicely.

“He’s three from five and you can put a line through his first run this year where he was a bit too fresh and a bit too exuberant but his last two starts have been very good.

“He was good at Sandown the time before over a mile when he was second and looked like he was crying out for a mile and a quarter and obviously did very well given his inexperience to win the John Smith’s Cup which is always a nice race to win and always a summer handicap highlight.

“We’ll be sticking to handicaps for now and he’ll go for the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood. It’s the race we took Enfjaar for after winning the John Smith’s Cup and he got beat a neck and nearly did both but hopefully it’s doable for Raammee, he’s come out of the race well.”