Watson delights in Newmarket spin

Jamie Spencer appeared impressed with his first experience of Winker Watson as he prepares to partner Peter Chapple-Hyam’s unbeaten colt in Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

The Irishman put Winker Watson through his paces before racing at the Newmarket July Course on Thursday, where he sprinted away from an older lead horse in the closing stages.

Chapple-Hyam and his owners, The Comic Strip Heroes, have endured setback after setback and have not even seen the chestnut race since he showed a smart turn of foot to pick up the July Stakes at the same Newmarket meeting a year ago.

“Jamie’s exact words were ’those Guineas horses better watch out!”’ said Chapple-Hyam.

“I’m delighted with him and he’s entitled to be ring-rusty as it’s a year to the day since he last ran.

“He was my best two-year-old last year and my best horse this year. Jamie will ride him and that was a good piece of work. He definitely runs on Sunday.”

Spencer added: “It was just a random bit of work to wake him up but it went well.

“I haven’t sat on him before but I think Alan Munro is suspended and Jimmy Fortune is not free, so I’m supersub.”