Urban Lion sets up Royal Hunt Cup tilt with Sandown success
Jack Channon's four-year-old has enjoyed a fine start to 2025, winning on the all-weather at Chelmsford before going down narrowly at Newbury in the valuable Spring Cup.
That agonising loss brought the Royal meeting on the agenda, but needing to go up in the weights to guarantee his place in the Royal Hunt Cup field, the West Ilsley handler felt obliged to run his improving gelding in the Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap in hope of securing a penalty.
Sent off 9-4 in the hands of Edward Greatrex, Urban Lion was always in touch with the leaders and after moving stylishly into contention, kept on nicely for a two-length victory that saw him cut to 25-1 from 40s for next week's Royal Hunt Cup by Paddy Power.
'He did that really smooth and Eddie said he did it really well and when he hit the front he pricked his ears and dossed around so there was plenty left,' said Channon.
'It was a very pleasing performance to see but also quite frustrating that it wasn't at Ascot off that mark. We'll have the penalty now and we can go to Ascot off the back of this.
'He's been trained for the Hunt Cup since going close in the Spring Cup at Newbury and his preparation for next week has been flawless.
Urban Lion won nicely for Jack Channon (Bradley Collyer/PA)
'However, it became apparent earlier in the week he wasn't going to get in so he had to go and win today and then hope he comes out of it well enough and is also well-handicapped enough to go and perform.
'This is a very nice horse that has taken a lot of patience from his owners and also everyone at home but he's paying it back in bundles now and I think his trajectory is only going to go up and up.'
Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy enjoyed a double when 6-4 favourite Gladius won the opening Download The BetMGM App Handicap before Dance In The Storm (5-2 joint-favourite) bounced back to form impressively in the Bet £10 Get £40 With BetMGM Handicap.
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