Ascot date for Dawn Approach

Dawn Approach will head to Royal Ascot in two weeks, for either the Coventry Stakes or Chesham Stakes, with an untarnished record, following his 4/9 success in the listed Alfred Nobel Rochestown Stakes at Naas yesterday.

Successful at the Curragh on the opening day of the season and over this course and distance last month, the New Approach colt became involved in a battle for the first time in this listed event as he matched the early speed of the Richard Hannon-trained Mister Marc before getting involved in a battle and, ultimately, forging clear inside the final furlong to triumph by two and three-quarter lengths.

His trainer, Jim Bolger, commented: “The trip doesn’t really matter to him and, like most horses, he’d prefer better ground, although he’s fairly versatile ground-wise.