Hali shines but Channon rues Derby omission

Mick Channon was left ruing his decision not to enter Halicarnassus in the Vodafone Derby after the colt lowered the colours of Eastern Anthem in the Peters Opal Stakes at Goodwood.

The runner-up had finished in behind leading Classic contender Salford Mill on his most recent outing, leaving Channon contemplating what might have been at Epsom on Saturday week.

Eastern Anthem, representing Godolphin and sent off the 30-100 favourite under Frankie Dettori, took command of the three-runner field over two furlongs out.

But after being hard-ridden, he was left standing by Darryll Holland’s mount who kicked clear inside the distance for a length-and-a-quarter victory.

Channon said of his 7-2 chance: “He is in the Irish Derby but I didn’t enter him at Epsom as he was in so many mile races; you might call it trainer error.

“He has a lot of speed but staying may be his game.

“He had very solid form as a two-year-old and he loves decent ground, so it will be interesting to see how he goes.”

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford added of Eastern Anthem: “He has been beaten by a better horse on the day and we will look at Ascot for him now.”

Channon added to his tally as crack Australian rider Hugh Bowman broke his duck on the Sussex Downs as he guided Johar Jamal (6-1) home by a head in the Avon Inflatables EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Bowman said: “It is great to break my duck at these courses and she had been working very well.”

Channon added: “Hugh is going very well and I am chuffed for him.

“He rode this filly in work the other day and said she would win. He is settling in well, he is enjoying it and the horses are running well.

“She is a very nice filly and will be better in time, so we will see where we go.”

Richard Hannon is considering a crack at Royal Ascot’s Britannia Handicap with Mr Aviator (8-1) after his success in the National Boat Shows At Excel Stakes.

Jimmy Fortune had to push his way through a wall of horses inside the distance to make sure he collected, but his mount devoured the ground when hitting the front and went on to score by a length and a quarter from Al Khaleej.

Hannon said: “He looked a decent horse when winning on the all-weather and the form of that has worked out well.

“He had been working very well and we were confident coming here. We will consider the Britannia now.”

Fortune went on to complete a double as smart chaser Full House sprung a 20-1 shock when bounding clear for a ready four-length success in the two-mile De Novo Stakes.

The stayers’ contest also saw the return of Richard Quinn to the saddle, but a fairytale comeback was too much to ask for and his mount Mister Right faded into 12th having made much of the running.

Liam Jones finished third on Noddies Way but picked up a one-day ban (June 4) for careless riding.

Cosmodrome (10-1) maintained her unbeaten record in the Raymarine Stakes over 10-furlongs.

Luca Cumani’s filly only had a Wolverhampton maiden win to her name but her wily Italian handler obviously knew what he had and placed her to good advantage in this Listed event.

Nicky Mackay set her alight inside the final furlong and she sprinted clear to see off the well-backed 15-8 favourite Sudoor by a length and a half.

Cumani’s assistant Charles Henson said: “We will take her home and formulate a plan but she did that impressively.”

Jeremy Noseda’s Truly Enchanting obliged as the 10-11 favourite by coming with a storming run down the centre of the course to get off the mark in the Woodcote Building Services Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The John Dunlop-trained Nawaqees provided Sudoor’s connections with compensation as the 16-1 chance picked up well for Richard Hills to collect, despite a lengthy stewards’ inquiry, in the Cheviot Asset Management Stakes.

There was a sting in the tail for Hills, however, as he picked up a one-day ban for careless riding and will be out of action on June 4.