Goodwood Saturday review: Illykato lands feature

Goodwood Saturday review

The Mick Channon-trained Illykato got up in the final strides to win a thrilling MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Conqueror Fillies' Stakes.

Agincourt (8/1) looked to have put the Listed contest to bed when going to the front inside the final furlong but became a sitting duck as the 12/1 winner found a run by the far rail and rattled home to snatch the prize in the shadows of the post.

Only a nose separated the principals in a blanket finish with the rallying Lilac Road and Amniarix a neck and short-head away respectively in third and fourth.

Channon’s son and assistant Jack said: "She had a really good two-year-old campaign and was fourth in the Dick Poole (at Salisbury) when beaten just a nose for third. We felt she had missed out, and it was a bit of a non event on her comeback in the Fred Darling in which she was mullered about when starting to make her run.

"To be fair the Charlie Bishop he’s ridden her in a lot of work and said she would definitely get the mile.”

Future plans for Illykato are not set in stone and Channon added: “She was a very small filly against very big fillies today, but if she can keep settling she can keep progressing. With black type on the board we can plan accordingly, while keeping her under the radar.”

Ed Greatrex rode the winner and completed a double aboard Fairy Cakes in the MansionBet Watch And Bet Handicap.

In contrast this was an armchair ride, Eve Johnson Houghton's charge bursting clear after the two pole and winning, eased down, by three lengths from Wink Of An Eye.

Jason Watson, touched off on Agincourt, gained quick compensation when Tintoretto won the MansionBet Proud To Sponsor British Racing Handicap.

This time he was aboard the closer, the 13/2 chance reeling in 11/8 favourite King’s Knight to win by a head.

It was tight in the MansionBet Bet 10 Get 20 Guaranteed Handicap too with 6/4 joint-favourite Nebulosa and Oisin Murphy coming out on top.

They were engaged in a sustained duel with Farasi Lane (10/3) from the two furlong marker and were only ever in front at the post, the photographic evidence showing Andrew Balding’s charge had prevailed by a short-head.

Murphy was another rider in double form and remarkably things were even tighter for Dawndiva in the Follow mansionbet Maiden Stakes. Brian Meehan's charge was first to commit in this mile contest and it proved crucial as she held off the fast-finishing General Lee by a nose.

The jockey did come out on the wrong side of a photo finish in the Download The MansionBet App Handicap.

His partner Stone Of Destiny was hard on the bridle as he threw down his challenge inside the distance but Desert Safari and Joe Fanning weren't for passing, holding on by a short-head.

Fanning observed: “He’s a nice horse that I’ve always thought a bit about. And I think five is the ideal trip for him. He’s got plenty of speed, and I hope there’s more to come.”

Things were more clear-cut in the opening MansionBet Beaten By A Head Handicap, 11/10 favourite Master Milliner running out a ready winner.

The progressive five-year-old stayed on strongly under Cieren Fallon and was in total command inside the distance, beating Be My Sea by two-and-a-half lengths.

Emma Lavelle, a trainer more often associated with jumpers, harbours hopes that one day Master Milliner might make a hurdler.

She said: “I’m really pleased with him. He’s a stronger horse and travels much better than he did. Now he jumps off and doesn’t have to be urged to come into the bridle. He’s from a family that get better with age, and I hope the same will ring true with him.

“When he had meningitis it was a live or die situation, but we knew that if he did get through it he would probably return to normal, though the trauma of it means he’s actually a year behind the age he is.”

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