For the second time this week, Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark produced a big-priced winner as 25/1 chance Noble Champion ran away with the G3 Jersey Sakes.
Returning to seven furlongs after trying sprinting at Newbury, Noble Champion had the perfect lead into the contest from front-runner Spy Chief down the middle of the track.
Despite veering off a straight line late on, Noble Champion was well on top in the closing stages as he went away to win by three and a quarter lengths. Spy Chief (20/1) was a clear second, with 11/4 favourite Commanche Brave almost three lengths further back in third.
Walker and Shoemark teamed up earlier in the meeting with Never Let Go, who landed Friday’s Sandringham Stakes at odds of 22/1.
Walker said: “It has been a great week. We have had a few blips, but we are thrilled. I am just so pleased for this horse. We had massive belief in Noble Champion coming into this year and, for one reason or another, we have just not got it right.
“He had a setback in January, which messed up our prep for the Greenham; he needed that run. We always thought he was a Guineas horse. We really believed in him but we thought we’d go a sensible route and ran in a conditions race at Goodwood over a mile. There wasn’t much pace and he was keen and just got it all wrong.
“We then brought him back to six furlongs at Newbury because he had showed so much speed at home. We even thought we might end up supplementing him for the Commonwealth Cup, but that didn’t work, and finally the trainer got it right! Noble Champion is as good a work horse as we have had; he has such a high cruising speed and is just a very smart horse.
“He has driven me mad. It has been really difficult, and I’m probably guilty of wearing my heart on my sleeve. I tell my owners if I think horses are good, bad or ugly, and I’ve told Simon [Sadler, owner] how much belief I had in this horse. There have been excuses, but I said to Simon, if it doesn’t work today, then I don’t know what is going wrong.
“Simon Sadler has recently come into the game. He is an incredibly generous guy and says he wants to take the stable to the next level. He is giving all of his prizemoney from Ascot to a pancreatic and liver charity. He is a great man and we’re very lucky to have him on board, but all of our owners are important. Lots of them have been with me for a very long time and. without them, we wouldn’t be where we are.”
Shoemark said: “Ed has always held Noble Champion in the highest regard. He has a lot of ability and, for one reason or another, things just haven’t gone right this year.
“The stiff seven furlongs here at Ascot, with a nice strong pace, has really seen him at his best. He was in a lovely rhythm and it was just a matter of time – when I pressed go, he really hit the line strong.
“It can be a lonely place in front here as, with the grandstand, there is plenty to look at. He would not have been in front a lot on his own before, so he was entitled to be a little bit green, but he is very talented.
“Ed’s yard really is flying and there is a lovely team at home. It is a really impressive operation. I feel very fortunate to have partnered some good horses this week.”
Robert Havlin said of Spy Chief said: “A great run. He is an inexperienced horse coming from a novice win at Yarmouth. He is still learning and still needs to relax a bit. I think the more racing he does, the better he will get.”
Donnacha O’Brien said of the favourite: “Comanche Brave ran ok. I don’t think he had any excuses – the first two pulled well clear. This is a tough place, so any time you hit the board, it is not a bad result.”