Tag Archive for: Kittys Light

Kitty’s Light shines in brilliant Sandown gold run

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Hugely popular staying chaser Kitty’s Light shone once again in taking bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Just seven days after landing the Scottish Grand National, the Christian Williams-trained seven-year-old, who was third to the well-handicapped Hewick in last year’s renewal and was unfortunate the year before that, went one better after a protracted battle with Moroder.

In a deep renewal of the extended three-and-a-half-mile handicap, former King George VI Chase winner Frodon made much of the running, with Moroder upsides five out.

But Bryony Frost’s mount, shouldering top weight, was under pressure at the Pond Fence three out and as the 11-year-old back-peddled, Kitty’s Light was making stealthy headway under Jack Tudor.

There were plenty still in with a chance two out, but the 11-4 favourite, who was carrying just 10st 8lb having escaped a penalty for last week’s success at Ayr, powered up the hill and after jumping upsides at the final fence, strode out smartly to score by two and a half lengths from Moroder.

Revels Hill travelled smoothly only to be outgunned when it mattered and finished a further five and a half lengths down in third, with The Goffer making up ground to take fourth.

Having previously won the Eider at Newcastle, Kitty’s Light completed a hat-trick and became the only the second horse after Hot Weld in 2007 to successfully complete the Scottish National and bet365 Gold Cup Double.

Betfair introduced Kitty’s Light into their 2024 Grand National betting, making him a 40-1 shot for Aintree glory.

Williams said: “Coming into today there were lots of negatives and we put ourselves under pressure running him again just a week later, but we’ve had the horse since he was a yearling and Jack knows him well. We know that when we give him a chance he will do something special.

“His constitution is unbelievable and at this time of year he comes into himself. It’s hard to get him right for 12 months of the year and it’s hard to get these horses right and they tend to just tend to come into themselves.

“When we won last year’s Scottish National with Win My Wings, I trained him for five years and I don’t know where that performance came from and it’s the same here today.

“We train him nice and quietly at home and he doesn’t get knocked about when he runs and Jack was nice and kind on him in the Scottish National.

“He didn’t pull him out (to challenge) until the second last and we had the cheekpieces in the wardrobe for when we needed them.

“There was no plan, he just came out of the race so well. We just felt that he’s a special horse and we wanted to give him the opportunity to do something that not many horses have done.”

Williams was emotional in the aftermath of Ayr, following news his five-year-old daughter Betsy has been diagnosed with leukaemia.

Christian Williams and Jack Tudor after winning the bet365 Gold Cup
Christian Williams and Jack Tudor after winning the bet365 Gold Cup (David Davies for the Jockey Club)

He went on: “Ayr was great last week, we were under pressure there as we’d had such a tough few weeks with Betsy and when we got up there the story was all about Betsy. All the emotions came out when he won whereas today all the focus was just on the result.

“We showed our emotion at Ayr, but today was purely a bonus and it was because he’d come out of the race so well and we wanted to give him the chance to do something special.

“Poor Tilly my older daughter doesn’t get a mention! Hayley Moore ran the London Marathon for Cancer Research and Betsy last week and she messaged me to say she was doing it. She brought me the medal half an hour before the race so I’ve had it on since and it’s just great.

“We’ve got tough times ahead but we’re lucky to be involved in this sport and to see the joy it brings with Betsy, Charlotte (wife) and all the family at home is just a big lift. It’s all down to this horse. People talk about the jockey and the trainer, but the horse is the one who gives us these days and gives us so much joy.”

Tudor said: “He’s a freak, an absolute freak. It’s the only way to describe him. I was worried about the ground when I walked the track as it was sticky as it’s hard enough on that ground and it felt like it.

“With running last week he’s had a hard week and a lot of travelling, but it was a great shout by the owners and Chris to run him. We thought all the facts were there and the boxes ticked to run him and that’s why we ran.

“He’s unbelievable, he’s done some amount (of good) for both mine and Christian’s careers. Everything that Chris and his family are going through is terrible but this horse has done so much to lift them, I spoke to Charlotte and she said that Betsy thinks she’s famous!

“It’s brilliant and I know they’re getting a massive lift from this, it’s bound to be helping.”

Kitty’s Light could be fantastic again for Williams at Sandown

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Scottish Grand National hero Kitty’s Light bids for a rare double in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

The seven-year-old is turning out just seven days after providing trainer Christian Williams with back-to-back victories in Scotland’s most prestigious jumps race, with the Ferdy Murphy-trained Hot Weld the last horse to win both races in the same season back in 2007.

Williams was dealt a devastating blow recently when his five-year-old daughter Betsy was diagnosed with leukaemia, and the Welsh handler was unsurprisingly emotional in the Ayr winner’s enclosure following Kitty’s Light’s deserved big-race success north of the border.

“It was a wonderful day. It’s been a tough few weeks for my family and friends, Kitty’s Light has been a flagship horse for the last few years and going into the race winning Scottish National would have been a massive boost, so it was very emotional for everyone,” he said.

“We’re just lucky enough to be involved in the sport and see the joy that horses can bring. This was just one situation there at the weekend, what the horse did to pick everyone up, and it’s all down to Kitty’s Light. It was a wonderful, emotional day.”

Kitty’s Light has been a fantastic servant to his connections, placing in numerous big races prior to this season, including in the last two renewals of the bet365 Gold Cup.

He snapped a near two-year losing streak in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February and having chased home stablemate Win My Wings in the Scottish National last April, went one better with a typically game performance under his regular partner Jack Tudor.

Jockey Jack Tudor (left) and trainer Christian Williams celebrate after Kitty’s Light's Ayr triumph
Jockey Jack Tudor (left) and trainer Christian Williams celebrate after Kitty’s Light’s Ayr triumph (Jane Barlow/PA)

Williams admits only time will tell if those exertions will take their toll just a week later, but is happy to the roll the dice with a horse who is somewhat out of the ordinary.

He added: “The horse seems very well and came out of the race very well. You never really know until you run, but Jack is riding him and he knows the horse better than anyone – he’s in the right hands.

“He loves this type of ground and loves this time of year. We haven’t ridden him out much this week, but we let him out in the field on Sunday and he galloped off like a lunatic.

“It’s obviously brave running him, but we’ve had the horse since he was a yearling and he is a freak really. If you saw him he’d be the last horse you’d pick out for a four-mile chase, but he defies all that.

“The way he comes out of a race is freakish – you could nearly run him in the next race. I don’t know if he’s got big lungs or a big heart, but he’s different to any other horse we’ve run.”

Williams feels Kitty’s Light should already have a bet365 Gold Cup victory under his belt, having been narrowly denied after a controversial finish in 2021.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Enrilo passed the post in front, but having hung badly left in the closing stages, impeding Kitty’s Light in the process, he was demoted to third.

However, as Potterman split the pair in second, he was awarded the race, with Kitty’s Light promoted from third to second but again having to make do with minor honours.

“Paul Nicholls felt he should have won the race when the result was reversed and we felt we should have won the race,” said Williams.

“We think his name should be on that winner’s board, so hopefully we can get it up there on Saturday.”

Frodon and Bryony Frost will team up again at Sandown
Frodon and Bryony Frost will team up again at Sandown (Niall Carson/PA)

On the day he will be crowned champion trainer for a 14th time, Nicholls saddles three runners in his bid for a fourth bet365 Gold Cup success, with popular top-weight Frodon joined by Enrilo and Broken Halo.

“Broken Halo has won the Grand Military and Royal Artillery in his last two starts but this is altogether a tougher race. He’s not without an outside chance, but I think the other two – Frodon and Enrilo – have a real chance,” explained Nicholls.

“Frodon ran very well the last day in a handicap at Kempton. He was flat out all the way then stayed on strongly up the straight and I just thought this would be a lovely race for him. I’m sure he will run well and he likes Sandown.

“The distance is unknown territory but he got three-and-a-quarter in the Badger Ales staying on strongly. Sandown is the sort of track you can freewheel from the top of the hill down and round the back and I think he will get a trip – I think he’s wanting it now.

“Enrilo won the race two years ago but got demoted. He’s been a tad disappointing since, but he has dropped to a nice mark and I would say this is as good form as we have had him in for a long time.”

Other leading contenders include Harry Fry’s Revels Hill, Ben Pauling’s recent course scorer Mucho Mas and the Evan Williams-trained Annsam, who has previously won at Kempton and Ludlow this season.

“It’s a big step up in trip, a very competitive race and there’s a few horses who are very well-in at the weights,” said Williams.

“I think Ludlow was important for us really. Obviously we went up in the weights, but that is almost an irrelevance as it was important to ride him in a different way and it worked out well.

“I was very keen to come and have a go at Saturday. At the end of the day this was a plan and getting there after a good prep is the main thing.”

Henderson makes Celebration Chase entry for Jonbon

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Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is a surprise contender in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

A novice, his only defeat over fences came in the Arkle at Cheltenham behind Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo.

Since then he has won at Aintree when he appreciated the better ground, but he was expected to be put away for the season.

Henderson is no stranger to running novices in open company with Sprinter Sacre and Altior both winning the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury as novices.

“We’ve put him in so there’s a good chance he’ll turn up. He’s in there to run,” said the Seven Barrows trainer.

“We’re just monitoring him. He seems very well in himself. Everybody at home has been very happy with him and I thought he looked great yesterday and today so we popped him.

“He absolutely bounced off that good ground at Aintree, he really loves it.

“We’ve run novices in open company before so we have done it with others.”

Altior won the Celebration Chase three times himself and if Jonbon runs he will be attempting to stop Greaneteen from achieving the same feat.

Paul Nicholls’ chaser excels at Sandown, with a Tingle Creek to go with his two victories in this race.

Captain Guinness and Editeur Du Gite, second and third to Energumene in the Champion Chase, add further strength in depth to what could prove to be a fascinating Grade One contest.

First Flow, Funambule Sivola, Global Citizen and Magic Daze complete the list.

In the bet365 Gold Cup Saturday’s Scottish National winner Kitty’s Light could make a quick reappearance for Christian Williams.

Kitty’s Light won the Scottish National on Saturday
Kitty’s Light won the Scottish National on Saturday (Jane Barlow/PA)

Last year’s winner Hewick has also been left in by Shark Hanlon, although he has been declared to run in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.

Should Hewick not run Frodon will be at the head of the weights for Nicholls and Bryony Frost.

Nicholls could also run Switch Hitter and Enrillo. The latter was first past the post in the 2021 renewal but was disqualified and placed third.

Hewick has also been left in the bet365 Oaksey Chase in which Nicholls could run McFabulous and Solo.

McFabulous also has the option of running in the bet365 Select Hurdle along with stablemate Knappers Hill.

Goshen, Thyme Hill and Call Me Lord are among eight entries.

Kitty’s Light gives Christian Williams an emotional victory in the Scottish National

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Wales beat Scotland in the Coral Scottish Grand National with last year’s runner-up Kitty’s Light getting the better of Cooper’s Cross in a thrilling encounter.

Beaten by stablemate Win My Wings in the Ayr showpiece 12 months ago, the Christian Williams-trained chaser is still only seven yet has been running in these big handicaps for the past three years.

Raised 8lb for his win in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February, Kitty’s Light was ridden by Jack Tudor, who recently took the job as stable jockey for David Pipe.

It was with Williams with whom he started his career, though, and in the aftermath it was clear just what the result meant to the pair of them.

Dropped out, Kitty’s Light’s jumping was much better on this occasion, at least until he got to the final fence at which he went right through the top.

But that did not stop his momentum too much, and as Stuart Coltherd’s Cooper’s Cross tried with all his might to keep the prize at home, Kitty’s Light (4-1 joint-favourite) stayed on strongly to score by three lengths. Flash De Touzaine was third with Threeunderthrufive fourth.

Williams has had his world turned upside down recently with the news his five-year-old daughter Betsy has been diagnosed with leukaemia, and was emotional in the aftermath.

He said: “It’s brilliant. He’s a very important horse. We’ve a big battle on at home with my daughter, but this is great and will cheer everyone up.

“I’m lucky to have the staff I’ve got, and the family. It’s a great tonic to the children watching at home and I’m looking forward to getting back tonight and seeing them all.”

Tudor told ITV Racing: “He’s a legend. He’s small and he’s not a brilliant jumper and he’s been trained to the absolute minute.

“This is brilliant for Christian, his little daughter is really unwell so it’s a massive lift for him more than anyone, the whole family, Charlotte (Williams’ wife), it means a lot this one so well done to everyone at the yard. People won’t know what this will mean to Christian.

“If Betsy can be as tough as Kitty’s Light she’ll be fine.”

Expanding on the performance of his winner, Williams told Racing TV: “He bumped into a horse last year that looked unstoppable, nothing could have beaten her (Win My Wings) that day.

“With Kitty we had a plan to go Eider Chase and then this. He was a bit slow to come to hand earlier in the season, but he did a piece of work 10 days ago that Jack said we hadn’t seen the likes of for 12 months.

“We came here fairly confident, but we knew we’d need luck in running because he’s only small.

Jack Tudor and Christian Williams
Jack Tudor and Christian Williams (Jane Barlow/PA)

“It just goes to show the luck you need, he’s Flat-bred yet he’s running in four-mile chases. Fences probably get in his way. They aren’t too big here and he just seems to come to himself at this time of year.

“The only thing about last year is Jack wasn’t on the winner so I didn’t quite get the same kick out of it. To win it on Kitty’s this year is great.

“We won’t write Sandown (bet365 Gold Cup) off just yet because he can have a nice long break after that.”

Prior to the start, protesters from Animal Rising attempted to disrupt proceedings, but they were quickly dealt with by police and officials and there was no repeat of the delay at Aintree, with the race going off just a couple of minutes late.

Dusart heads the weights for Scottish National

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Nicky Henderson’s Dusart will head a field of 23 in Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

A winner at the meeting last season when he beat the smart Sounds Russian, he has had an interrupted campaign this year, only running twice.

He will attempt to carry 12st to victory, 7lb more than the nearest in the weights – Paul Nicholls’ Threeunderthrufive who finished a creditable eighth behind subsequent Grand National winner Corach Rambler in the Ultima at Cheltenham.

There has been plenty of money through the week for Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genius as he finished third in the UItima, a little over two lengths behind the impressive winner.

Mighty Thunder won the race in 2021
Mighty Thunder won the race in 2021 (Jeff Holmes/PA)

Corach Rambler’s trainer Lucinda Russell is bidding for a Grand National double with Your Own Story and Mighty Thunder, who won the race in 2021.

Sandy Thomson’s Empire Steel and Flower Of Scotland, Nick Alexander’s Elvis Mail, Stuart Coltherd’s Cooper’s Cross and Iain Jardine’s Half Shot are others trying to keep the prize in Scotland.

Last year’s contest was won by the Christian Williams-trained mare Win My Wings, now retired, but behind her in second was stablemate Kitty’s Light and he is back in a bid to go one better and add to the Eider Chase he won in February.

Gavin Cromwell, who went so close to winning the Aintree National with Vanillier, sends over Malina Girl with Liz Doyle’s Flash De Touzaine and John Ryan’s Waitnsee other Irish contenders.

“Although we don’t have a full field of 30 for this year’s Coral Scottish Grand National, we do have a fiercely competitive renewal that will once again ensure the race features prominently in the highest turnover list come year end,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

“Kitty’s Light remains favourite to go one place better than 12 months ago, but only just, with Monbeg Genius the best-backed horse this week.”

Light leads 31 contenders for Scottish National honours

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Ante-post favourite Kitty’s Light is among 31 horses to stand their ground following the confirmation stage for Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National.

Runner-up to stablemate Win My Wings in the Ayr marathon 12 months ago, the Christian Williams-trained seven-year-old is well fancied to go one better after winning the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February.

With Grand National hero Corach Rambler unsurprisingly taken out, the weights are now headed by Nicky Henderson’s Dusart on 12st, with Threeunderthrufive next on the list for Paul Nicholls with a weight of 11st 7lb.

Corach Rambler’s Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell has a couple of chances in her bid to complete the National double, with 2021 winner Mighty Thunder and Your Own Story both in the mix.

The four remaining Irish-trained contenders are Gordon Elliott’s Gevrey, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Malina Girl, Liz Doyle’s Flash De Touzaine and Waitnsee for John Ryan.

Other hopefuls include Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genius, Sandy Thomson’s pair of Empire Steel and Flower Of Scotland and Chris Gordon’s Coolvalla, whose only defeat in six starts this season came when pulled up in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

Having seen his charge swiftly bounce back with victory at Exeter, Gordon is hoping to send him on the long journey north this weekend, provided conditions are suitable.

Chris Gordon could saddle Coolvalla in the Scottish Grand National
Chris Gordon could saddle Coolvalla in the Scottish Grand National (David Davies/Jockey Club)

“Coolvalla has been a wonderfully progressive horse. We chucked him in at Cheltenham for a fun day out, but just went in too deep there,” said the trainer.

“The great thing was he came back and won a nice race at Exeter. He has been a wonderful horse for us all.

“He’s rated 135. I chucked him in the Whitbread (bet365 Gold Cup) and in the Scottish National, but he does want a bit of cut in the ground and it does say it is a drying week. If it was run on Monday, the ground would be perfect for him.

“Most of last week they said it would be dry, but it rained every day, so we’ll see what this week holds.”

Elvis Mail, Manothepeople, Undersupervision and Flash Collonges are other leading contenders.

Kitty’s Light fantastic for Williams in Eider Chase

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Kitty’s Light secured the big-race victory he has long promised with a determined display in the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle.

The Christian Williams-trained seven-year-old was unfortunate not to land the 2021 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown after controversial finish and he has since been placed in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, the Coral Trophy at Kempton, the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and the bet365 Gold Cup for a second time.

Having fallen down the weights following a disappointing run of form so far this season, Kitty’s Light was the 7-4 favourite to bounce back at Gosforth Park – but his supporters were made to sweat before eventually collecting their winnings.

Jockey Jack Tudor was hard at work in the saddle at various stages of the four-one-mile-furlong contest, while Kitty’s Light was far from convincing at a number of fences on the way round.

But to his credit, the Nathaniel gelding managed to keep himself in contention and his huge reserves of stamina kicked in from the home turn and he kept on dourly from the final fence to get up and beat The Galloping Bear by two and a half lengths.

Williams, claiming back-to-back Eider wins following the comfortable success of Win My Wings 12 months ago, said: “I’m delighted. It was a great ride for good owners. The ground was a bit messy and he made hard work of it, but we’ve got plenty of faith in him and you can never write him off.

“He does his best work in the latter stages of a race. He’s got a Flat pedigree and is not bred to be jumping fences and running over four miles!

“He’s a brilliant little horse. All the stats said he couldn’t win with his age and this and that, but he’s a freak so I didn’t take much notice.

“We know how hard it is to win that type of race. We won it with Win My Wings last year, who probably had 20-odd pounds in hand. We thought we had Kitty’s Light mapped out for it, but you don’t just go up there and win that type of race, so I’m proud of the horse and Jack everyone who travelled up there.”

Christian Williams was thrilled with the victory of Kitty's Light at Newcastle
Christian Williams was thrilled with the victory of Kitty’s Light at Newcastle (Simon Marper/PA)

Kitty’s Light was cut to 5-1 from 10-1 for the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on March 18, but appears unlikely to take his chance.

“I think we’ve got two options now, the Scottish National and the bet365 Gold Cup. We’ll have a sit down and speak to the owners and see which race will suit him,” Williams added.

“He ran in both races last year, but this year they’re only a week apart so I think we will target one or the other.

“We left him in the Midlands National at the first stage as we were worried about the ground at Newcastle, but I would have thought he’ll be taken out of that now.”

Williams waits on Kempton call for Cap Du Nord

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Christian Williams will make a late call on whether to allow Cap Du Nord to make a swift return to action and bid for back-to-back victories in the Coral Trophy at Kempton on Saturday.

The 10-year-old was a clear-cut winner of the prestigious handicap 12 months ago and struck gold for the first time since in last weekend’s LK Bennett Swinley Handicap Chase at Ascot.

Cap Du Nord would carry a 5lb penalty for that win if he were to turn out just seven days later and Williams admits the £150,000 prize is tempting.

He said: “We’ll probably make a final decision on Thursday morning, but he came out of Ascot in great form, so we’ll see.

“We could wait for the Scottish National, but it’s a very valuable race on Saturday, there might not be a whole lot of runners and we feel it’s a track that suits him very well and the ground will suit him.

“We’d like to see how the race cuts up before we decide whether to take a chance or not.”

Kitty’s Light made it a one-two for Williams when chasing home Cap Du Nord in last year’s Coral Trophy, before finding only another stablemate too strong in the Scottish Grand National in Win My Wings.

Kitty’s Light is 8lb lower in the weights than this time last year following an underwhelming season thus far and while he also has the option of running at Kempton again, Williams is currently favouring a trip to the north east.

Kitty's Light (right) in action at Sandown
Kitty’s Light (right) in action at Sandown (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“We’ll probably go to Newcastle for the Eider Chase with Kitty’s, as long as the ground doesn’t go too soft up there,” the Welsh trainer dded.

“If Frodon runs at Kempton it keeps us out of the weights a little bit, so I would have thought Kitty’s will go to Newcastle. If Frodon doesn’t run, then he’ll probably go to Kempton for the prize-money.

“He hasn’t won for two years and was struggling to win off those higher marks. The handicapper has given him a chance and the horse deserves to win a feature race, so let’s hope it’s on the weekend.”

Christian Williams looking to a familiar friend to kick-start 2023

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Christian Williams is ready to ramp up the pace after a quiet start to 2023, and hopes staying chaser Kitty’s Light can take one of the big prizes over the coming months.

The Glamorgan handler may have lost last season’s Eider and Scottish National winner Win My Wings to injury and subsequent retirement, but in Kitty’s Light he has a horse who can help to fill the void.

The seven-year-old, who was runner-up to his stablemate at Ayr in April, will tread a familiar path, starting with Saturday’s three-mile Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase at Kempton, in which he was sent off favourite last year.

He was then placed in the Coral Trophy at Kempton, Scottish National and Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

“We’ve been a bit quiet, as the six-monthly flu jabs came in and knocked a few,” said Williams.

“We have Kitty’s Light on Saturday, then we have plenty to enter up.

“He seems well, obviously he wants a bit better ground, but it drains quick at Kempton.

“Kitty’s is rated 135 now. His last win was in March, two years ago, and he’s back to that (mark), so he’s got a chance, anyway.”

Though a consistent stayer, he will need to improve a few pounds to get into the Grand National at Aintree, and Williams added: “I wouldn’t have thought he was a National-type horse, but there are plenty of races outside of that.

“We’ll look at the Scottish National, the bet365 and the Coral Trophy again – they are valuable races.”

Last season’s Coral Trophy hero, Cap Du Nord, will head to Doncaster for his next start in a race where he is a standing dish.

“Cap Du Nord seems to click in at that time of year and he runs well in the Sky Bet Chase most years. He’s in that and he usually goes to the Coral Trophy  after that,” added the Ogmore-By-Sea handler.

Williams is also eyeing the valuable Cazoo Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield’s Winter Million meeting on Friday week for Warwick winner Lord Snootie.

The six-year-old benefited from a step up to three-and-a-quarter miles to win by four and a half lengths on New Year’s Eve.

Cap Du Nord has a Doncaster date
Cap Du Nord has a Doncaster date (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“Lord Snootie might go to Lingfield. There is a also big open race at Sandown the week after. He might need a bit of luck in getting in, but he might go for one of them,” added the trainer.

“It was a nice win at Warwick. It makes things a bit easier when you run in handicaps. He previously ran in a couple of Chepstow maidens which looked very strong.

“Ideally, the two-mile seven (furlong) race at Lingfield is where he will go, but that £100,000 handicap at Sandown a week after could be on the agenda. We’ll have a look.”