Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes |
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| Group 3, Ascot 15:10 £95,000 guaranteed, 3yo, 6f, Class 1  |
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1 Coppull 7/2
2 Midnight Tango 66/1
3 Division
10/1
8 ran Distances: nk, nk, 2l
Time: 1m 13.24s (slow by 0.74s)
Just holds on!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 1, 2026
Coppull digs deep to land the Commonwealth Cup Trial at @Ascot for Clive Cox and @Rossaryan15... pic.twitter.com/GuXxl2EEEr
Clive Cox once again demonstrated his enduring prowess in the sprinting ranks as Coppull advertised his Royal Ascot credentials with a determined success.
The son of Bated Breath had already established himself as a colt of note at two, landing the Richmond Stakes before rounding off his campaign with a creditable third in the Middle Park at Newmarket.
Here, he took another step forward, reversing previous form with those who had finished ahead of him on the Rowley Mile. Rossa Ryan settled him in behind the pace before asking him to close on the front-running Ghost Mode, whom he reeled in with authority.
Having struck the front, Coppull was forced to dig deep once more as Midnight Tango, a 66/1 outsider trained by Ed Walker, launched a late surge. The response was decisive, however, as he found again to prevail by a neck, with Division catching the eye in third, the same margin further back.
Sent off at 7/2, Coppull was subsequently cut to 12/1 by Paddy Power for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, a race Cox has previously captured with Golden Horde.
Before returning to Berkshire, a visit to Haydock for the Sandy Lane Stakes on May 23 appears a likely next step.
Cox said: “That was fantastic and it was good to start the year off with him like that.
“He was very pleasing last year and it was great to win the Richmond like he did at Goodwood. We took a bit of a sideways step in the Prix Morny, but finishing off in the Middle Park as he did was really encouraging.
“He’s wintered well, he hasn’t grown a lot taller but he’s got a lot stronger and matured mentally as well.
“I was really impressed with how he quickened twice there as he kind of idled a little bit but got going again. He battled back well and I’m really proud of him.
“We’ve had a good spring with him, but he’s bound to come forward for this and I’m pleased to see him start off like this.
“The Sandy Lane is a real possibility and a very logical step before coming back here for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.”
Pavilion Stakes
£95,000 guaranteed, 4yo, 6f Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
