Kingscote king for the day again after Outgate heads up 94-1 treble haul

Saturday: Chester

For the second consecutive Saturday, Richard Kingscote rode the winner of the day's richest British race with victory on Outgate in the feature £101,000 handicap part of his near 94-1 treble.

It might not have matched Kingscote's career-defining effort in the Derby on Desert Crown, but it was a notable success for the Daniel and Claire Kubler stable, who celebrated their most valuable win.

Outgate, sent off the 5-2 favourite, showed his liking for the course by winning at last month's May meeting and finished off the 7½f contest in the manner of an improving three-year-old.

"He got a nice run from a good draw and he's a likeable horse who has progressed well," said Kingscote. "It's lovely riding winners here. It's a nice sunny day with a big crowd and it's a big buzz."

Claire Kubler was overjoyed with the success of a colt bred and owned by her parents Gary and Lesley Middlebrook.

"It's great to have Richard Kingscote on board, he loves it round here and knows the track very well," she said.

"Outgate's a very progressive horse with a wicked turn of foot and it's amazing for my parents to see him all the way through from a foal to a proper racehorse. It would be nice to go for black type now."

Kingscote, who has ridden more winners at Chester than any other course bar Haydock, had earlier won on Sanks A Million in the 6f restricted novice, but picked up a three-day careless riding ban (June 25-27).

He ended a productive day with victory in the 6f handicap on Ballyare, who was Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell's first runner at the course.

Copper strikes gold again

Copper Knight shares the modern-day record for the number of wins at York, but the ever-reliable sprinter likes Chester too, as he showed by gaining his third course victory in the 5f handicap.

Winning for the 12th time – and first as an eight-year-old – on his 68th start, Tim Easterby's stable stalwart showed his class in the closing stages for a two-length success under apprentice Sean Kirrane.

Copper Knight: third course victory for evergreen sprinterCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's unbelievable and I'm not sure how he keeps showing up and putting in these amazing performances," said part-owner Tom Denham. "He's only a smallish horse and he nips round these bends quickly and has a good record here."

Copper Knight, bought by Easterby's son William for a mere 5,000gns at the end of his juvenile campaign, has won at York six times – the same number as Dakota Gold and Stradivarius – and a return to his beloved Knavesmire beckons.

"He started the season quite high in the handicap and needed to come down a few pounds, but he's still full of it and we'll keep going back to York as he absolutely loves it there," Denham added.

Long wait over

Owner Ross Sankey fulfilled a long-held ambition by gaining a first success at his local track courtesy of Sanks A Million.

"I've been waiting 25 years for a winner at Chester," he said. "I've had a few close shaves and it's a big thing I've managed to get one."

The Dave Loughnane-trained colt finished second on his first two starts and took a step forward after breaking from the stalls sharply en route to a half-length success.

Sankey said: "He's a nice horse. He had two seconds and now he's managed to get his head in front. He's very relaxed and learning on the job."

The Wrexham-based Sankey, who owns an engineering company, is looking forward to running Carmela at Royal Ascot on Wednesday in the Queen Mary, a race he won with Signora Cabello in 2018.

"She's a really nice filly and I think she's going to run a big race," he said. "She's tough as old boots and is going there with three runs under her belt, so she knows what it's about."

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