Jack Channon

The team at Opulence Thoroughbreds is said to be "on cloud nine still" following the success of Sukanya in Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury, with a decision on whether the daughter of Havana Grey will be supplemented for next week's 1,000 Guineas set to be made in the coming days. "My first reaction is I would like to go for the Irish 1,000 Guineas," said trainer Jack Channon in the immediate aftermath of that victory in the Classic trial better known as the Fred Darling. "We'll see...

Whether the Classic picture is any clearer this week than last is debatable but what the last seven days have brought us is some truly impressive performances to savour. And it is hard to pick just one, though it has to be said that Portcullis's Wood Ditton run was visually the most spectacular for all that you could see the colt learning with every stride he took, from being left at the start, to bounding through then clear of his rivals.  His maiden success for the King and Queen played...

According to betting forecasts, Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes was at the mercy of Shadwell's G2 Rockfel Stakes fifth Touleen (Lope De Vega), but the Owen Burrows trainee had to give best to Opulence Thoroughbreds' Rockfel ninth Sukanya (Havana Grey), who produced a late surge to register a 16-1 surprise. The winner does not hold an entry for Newmarket's G1 1000 Guineas, but remains engaged in the Irish equivalent. "She's a very good filly and had a very high level of class last year," insisted Channon. "My...

There was much to absorb over the last weekend and, significantly for the tier of horseracing which prompts so much fan engagement, the two best horses in Europe both returned victorious in Dubai. Calandagan (Gleneagles) and Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), first and second in last year's Qipco Champion Stakes and just two pounds apart in the 2025 Longines World Rankings, each put down an important marker for the season ahead, in the Dubai Sheema Classic and Dubai Turf respectively. And, yes, perhaps one can argue that there wasn't the usual...

The Retraining of Racehorses Racing to Cricket tournament is set for Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Wormsley Cricket Ground on the Getty Estate, near High Wycombe. Teams from the yards of Nicky Henderson, Richard Hannon, Ben Pauling, Jack Channon, as well as the combined Newmarket trainers' team of George Boughey, James Ferguson and Charlie Fellowes will compete to win the RoR Racing to Cricket trophy. A champagne reception, as well as a buffet lunch and traditional cricket tea in the private marquee, will be offered but tickets for the event...

'TDN Rising Star' Gather Ye Rosebuds (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), who blitzed a field by 9 1/2 lengths at Newbury will be pointed at one of the Oaks trials at Lingfield or Newbury later this month, according to handler Jack Channon. The G1 Betfred Oaks is slated for June 2. "She has come out of the race really well and she looks fantastic," said Channon, who will run Caernarfon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday, of the Mrs. P. Shanahan and Emily Magnier-owned filly. "I'm really...

Jack Channon took up the reins at the fabled West Ilsley yard in January and has made a determined start in his bid to follow the 32-year training career of his father, Mick.  Currently saddling winners at an impressive strike-rate, including a double on Bank Holiday Monday, the younger Channon can approach the prospect of his first Classic runner in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas with a degree of confidence. Yes, the filly in question, Caernarfon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), may be trading at up to 50/1 for Sunday's feature but the...

Barry Walters, the breeder of impressive Newbury winner Gather Ye Rosebuds (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), has described what it means to see the filly advertise her claims for Classic glory after spending over 30 years nurturing her family.  The Welshman sold Gather Ye Rosebuds through Charlie Vigors's Hillwood Stud at Book 2 at Tattersalls to Mick Channon on behalf of Linda Shanahan and Emily Magnier in 2020. Seeing the filly win by almost 10 lengths on debut for Jack Channon on Friday--and earn a TDN Rising Star nod in the process--makes...

In his first season training in his own right, Jack Channon has at least one very smart individual on his hands as the newcomer Gather Ye Rosebuds (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}--Chelsey Jayne {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) spreadeagled an assembly of well-bred 3-year-old fillies in Friday's 10-furlong Dreweatts Maiden Fillies' S. at Newbury to earn a TDN Rising Star tag. Slowly away under Connor Beasley, the 33-1 shot who races for Linda Shanahan and Emily Magnier was quickly able to gain a pitch tracking the leader before moving to the front approaching...

Mick Channon, who began training in 1989, will retire at the end of 2022, he announced on Saturday. The former football player will give his training operation to his son Jack. Now 73, Channon has saddled over 2,500 winners on the Flat in Britain, and his Group 1 winners include Piccolo (GB) (Warning {GB}), Zafeen (Fr) (Zafonic), Tobougg (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge). Channon said, "The licence will be handed over to Jack as from the start of next year. It's been a great way of...