Gutsy Kick On prevails for Gosden in Feilden Stakes as Western Australia fades

Kick On held on gamely to beat Walkinthesand in a rousing finish to the bet365 Feilden Stakes, and connections of both horses are now eyeing the French Classics as possible targets.

John Gosden and Richard Hannon have both trained the winner of this Listed race in recent seasons and their representatives fought out a tight finish.

After taking up the lead early, Oisin Murphy managed to galvanise enough out of Kick On to hold off the challenge of Walkinthesand, with 6-4 favourite Western Australia fading tamely. The front pair were well clear of Boerhan in third.

Gosden was winning the Feilden for a third time in five years following Khalidi in 2017 and the brilliant Golden Horn in 2015, who went on to win the Dante, the Derby and the Arc.

Qatar Racing's winner, who is also entered in the Dante, was trimmed to 25-1 (from 33) for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas but the French equivalent – for which he was installed at 8-1 by Paddy Power – could be a more likely target.

Gosden said: "He finished strongly and it was a good performance. Oisin was talking about Longchamp and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, so possibly we'll look at that."

Walkinthesand could also be making a journey abroad, Hannon saying: "He needs a trip now and has a few nice entries. He's run a super race. He's in the Dante and French Derby.

"He was a little bit on his own and it appears you really need to be on the rail today. He's always worked like he wants a trip, a lot of good horses do that, and he keeps finding a bit."

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