WINNERS’ QUOTES RANCH HANDS KINGSCLERE RACING CLUB A PROMISING VICTORY

Result:

1st RANCH HAND 15/2 Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Owner: Kingsclere Racing Club Breeder: Kingsclere Stud

2nd WITHHOLD 2/1 Trainer: Roger Charlton Jockey: Jason Watson Owner: Tony Bloom Breeder: Millsec Limited

3rd GHOSTWATCH 9/2 Trainer: Mark Johnston Jockey: William Buick Owner: Godolphin Breeder: Niarchos Family

Distances: ½, 1¾

Winning time: 3:23.71s

Key statistics and information:

· Ranch Hand’s victory was the first in this race for trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy;

· Runner-up Withhold continued his fine record while racing during The Newmarket Gold Season. By Juddmonte’s late Champs Elysees, he won this race last season and also took the Cesarewitch in 2017;

· Ranch Hand is a son of the late Dunaden, who won the Melbourne Cup in 2011, beating Red Cadeaux by a nose in a thriller at Flemington;

· Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding will be hoping for further success at this meeting, with Kameko in Friday’s Shadwell Joel Stakes and Bell Rock in Saturday’s bet365 Cambridgeshire.

What they said:

Nathaniel Barnett, Kingsclere Racing Club

“He’s been running in competitive staying races all season and this was his first time back up at two miles since the Cesarewitch last year. He’s just been hitting a flat spot in his races this season, so I think that extra couple of furlongs made the difference today. He looked to appreciate it and I thought he was holding on well at the end.

“We’ll enjoy this result today [before making any plans] but this does open up plenty of options for us.”

Oisin Murphy, Ranch Hand’s jockey

“He’s a homebred, so I’m delighted. I know it was only a four-runner runner race but Mildenberger has very good form, as does Withhold. It was a step up in class and he’s answered every call.”