Chil Chil too hot for handicaps now and could head to July Cup

It is an ill rainstorm that does nobody any good. Ask Andrew Balding, whose Chil Chil is now a Group 3 winner with Group 1 aspirations.

Forced out of the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot by soft ground, the King Power sprinter was rerouted north to land the William Hill Chipchase Stakes – and could now bid for the July Cup at Newmarket.

Darley July Cup card and betting

"I think we've blown our cover for the Stewards' Cup now, given the weights haven't been published yet," her trainer said.

"If the ground came up fast, we'll probably have a crack at the July Cup."

Chil Chil is a 20-1 chance (from 40) for the July Cup with Paddy Power, after leading in the final 100 yards under Silvestre de Sousa to score by three-quarters of a length.

"She's improved a lot since last year," Balding said. "She's very effective on a sound surface and I'm delighted she's now a Group-race winner."

De Sousa added: "She was very lean early on last year but she's different now; she's grown up a lot mentally and physically. Andrew has done a great job, shown a lot of patience with her, and it's paid off today."

Band of gold

First-time-visored Zeeband landed the consolation Northumberland Vase by a ready two and a half lengths for Roger Varian.

He started from stall two and jockey Andrea Atzeni said: "The draw is obviously a big help here but the way he won you'd think he could have won from any draw.

"His comeback run at Newmarket was quite nice. He's obviously improved since then. He worked with a set of visors on last week and Roger was quite confident this morning."

Zeeband: 'He could have won from any draw'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Powerful Ejtilaab wins again

A step up in class beckons for Ejtilaab, who earned quotes of 10-1 (from 16) for the Bunbury Cup and 14-1 (from 20) for the Stewards' Cup from Paddy Power after impressively following up his Epsom Derby day success.

"He'll go for one or the other, it's nice to have options like that," said trainer Ian Williams.

The in-form sprinter led the stands' side group from the off to score by two and a half lengths in the 6f handicap under David Egan.

"That was powerful," Williams added. "It was a cracking performance. The drop to six furlongs has really helped him improve on his previous fair form over seven."

"He has a lot of ability," said Egan. "He showed a good turn of foot approaching the furlong pole to put the race to bed."

Ejtilaab: 'He has a lot of ability'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

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