Channon strikes with Millennium

Royal Millennium, an excellent fourth in Group One company last time out, appreciated the drop in class to gain a well-deserved victory in the Ballygallon Stud Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh today.

Mick Channon’s consistent sprinter was beaten just over two lengths behind Tante Rose in the Stanleybet Sprint Cup at Haydock Park two weeks ago after appearing to find trouble in running.

He made amends in this Group Three contest when leading inside the final furlong under Ted Durcan for a half-length call over fellow British raider Moss Vale, from the Barry Hills yard.

Grand Reward was a neck away in third, with Hughie Morrison’s Ruby Rocket seventh and the Rae Guest-trained Millybaa eighth.

Durcan was always confident of victory on the 7-2 chance and he said: “He got there quite easily, but he actually pulled up in the last 100 yards and pricked his ears. He’s like that.

“He’s got plenty of ability and he loves ease in the ground and everything panned out perfectly for him today.”

Durcan offered no excuses for Royal Millennium’s effort at Haydock.

He said: “It looked as though he didn’t get a run, but he’s one of those hold-up horses who is better when he is buried in like that. He ran a big race at Haydock, but there were no hard luck stories.”

Earlier on the card Gerard Butler’s Rydal finished a respectable fifth in the Land Rover Handicap, just a length and a quarter behind the winner Jacks Estate.