Bay bags Ascot honours

Baycat confirmed the promise of his debut run when maintaining his unbeaten record in the Ascot Annual Badgeholders’ Conditions Stakes at the Berkshire track.

Johnny Portman’s youngster made a flying start to his career when beating a pair of likely types at Newbury, and rubber-stamped the form by seeing off Firth of Fifth by a length and a quarter.

Richard Hannon’s Sun Ship and Skid Solo chased the 11-4 joint favourite home on his debut but were even further in arrears on this occasion.

Portman said: “I had great respect for the second and third from Newbury and it looks like both ours and Mr Hannon’s have improved.

“He was carrying more condition today as we haven’t done much with him since then, and I hope he carries on improving.

“Royal Ascot would have to be an option, but he has only beaten a handful of horses in his life and there are many more who could be better than him.

“He really needs to have more of a test to see if he is an Ascot horse, so he might run again before June.”