Crouch guides Coppull home in Hungerford to complete big-race double

Coppull stepped up in distance to land a second Group Two of his career under an enterprising ride from Hector Crouch, who completed a big-race double in the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.

The three-year-old Clive Cox-trained colt finished third in the July Cup last time out but a bold plan to move up to seven furlongs was landed in fine style for his jockey, who also completing a treble on the card.

Crouch delivered Coppull in eyecatching style, too, peeling away from the main group towards the far side two-and-a-half furlongs from home at the head of a three-strong breakaway, a path which proved quicker to the line.

It proved a masterstroke as the Bated Breath colt stayed on too strongly to land the £93,571 pot by one-and-a-quarter lengths at 15-2 from Prince Of India (14-1) with a further three-quarters of a length back to another of the breakaway trio, the 5-2 favourite Symbol Of Honour.

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Cox, who was credited by Crouch with the decision to go far side, said victory over seven furlongs had given them options for the remainder of the season.

"He was unlucky not to be a place closer at least in the July Cup but he always gave me the impression he would stretch another furlong, even as a two-year-old where he ran so well in the Coventry," he told ITV Racing.

"He's got a lot of class and he reminds me an awful lot of Lethal Force who won this race back in 2012 and he went on to be champion sprinter the year after he won this.

"He's still quick enough for six furlongs and while I'm not convinced he likes it really soft, with the dry summer we've had we've got choices now.

"If he comes back all right we could still run in the Haydock Sprint Cup and that would be with a bit of confidence after today. And we still have the Park Stakes [Group Two over seven furlongs at Doncaster] which obviously he would have a penalty in."

Melbourne Cup next stop for Wine Dark Sea after Freer success

Wine Dark Sea made every yard of the running to land a gamble in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury and set up a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup.

Connections have recently sold a share in the four-year-old gelding to Australian Bloodstock and victory under Hector Crouch was enough to earn a place in the Flemington race.

Making all under Crouch, Wine Dark Sea, who was well backed from 13-2 into 7-2, never looked like being pegged back and stayed on well in the straight to pull clear of the staying-on Tabletalk to win by a length and a half.

William Haggas' 2-1 favourite Dubai Honour was a neck further back in third.

Winning trainer Harry Charlton confirmed the Melbourne spectacular was the next stop for the improving four-year-old with the horse set to go into quarantine on September 9.

"The intention today was to finish third which would help with the ballot qualification for the Melbourne Cup and he has done more than that," said Charlton.

"The Aussies who I'm dealing with were saying finish third and they won't change his handicap mark. It is very different how they do it."

Wine Dark Sea ran out an impressive winner of handicaps at Ascot and Carlisle earlier in the season but could manage only fifth when well supported at Newmarket's July meeting.

Charlton was inclined to put that disappointment down to the rigours of a stiff finish and long journey to the Cumbrian track.

"Although he won on the bridle at Carlisle he broke the track record carrying top weight so you can't have an easy race, particularly travelling eight hours in a heatwave. The 10 days later we just saw a slightly flat horse.

"My brother [Tom] trains in Australia and has a Melbourne Cup runner as well. I have a team going down with the horse and you train out of the quarantine barn at Ballarat."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Crouch guides Coppull home in Hungerford to complete big-race double