Veteran Ascot Woodie (Droopys Scolari-Ascot Megan, Jul 12), who had to overcome huge swathes of bumping to reach the Coral Champion Stakes Final, took full advantage of favourite Starring Storm’s difficulties to hang for the £10,000 first prize.
John Mullins’ runner, running A2 at Hall Green four months earlier, went to traps as an 8-1 chance for the 575m decider. In his previous five races, his fastest 222m sectional was 13.68. In his trouble strewn semi, he had recovered from a 14.32 to qualify.
When it mattered though, he blasted away (13.65) to lead to lead by two lengths from Newlawn Peter (T1 13-2) with 2-1f Starring Storm a short head back in third. Seamus Cahill’s runner had been badly hampered at the boxes and on the run to the bend. Despite it all, his sectional was actually two lengths quicker than in his semi final victory.
As in the semis, Newlawn Peter had no answer to the favourite’s second half power and as he dropped away, the chase was on. Storm ran a stormer to catch the leader on the run-in but as they briefly clashed, Woodie retained the lead by a fraction of an inch to win in 35.40.
