'He’s going the right way' - Callum Hutchinson maintains red-hot form

Monday: Chepstow

Less than a week on from his first Royal Ascot success, Callum Hutchinson stayed on the winning trail at Chepstow but also had to endure a string of seconds, including two neck defeats on fancied mounts.

The young apprentice, who won the Ascot Stakes on Coltrane and was also on target at Goodwood last week, struck here on Diamond Cottage, who got off the mark at the 28th attempt to the delight of her trainer Malcolm Saunders.

“She’s run some really decent races and it’s been frustrating but maybe the hood has helped today. Let’s hope we can move forward with her now," Saunders said.

Of Hutchinson, who had ridden the five-year-old mare last June on one of her seven previous unsuccessful trips to Chepstow, Saunders added: "He’s a good lad. We used him last year when he was a 7lb claimer.

"He looks a lot stronger now and he proved that last week with his own guv'nor [Andrew Balding] putting him up at Royal Ascot, so he’s obviously going the right way."

Hutchinson had his own frustrations when he chased home the Adam West-trained Gilbert and David O’Meara’s Shawnee Warrior in the opening two contests, before winding up his day with two more seconds when the 1m2f novice went to George Boughey's Land Of Eagles and Shut Up And Dance took the finale for Jamie Osborne.

Saunders had his own bout of seconditis when Pastfact, his other runner on the card, was denied by the Michael Bell-trained Stone Circle in the 5f handicap.

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