Chemical charges to Doncaster victory

While Arod and Endless Drama were out of luck in Australia on Saturday, there was still plenty for Qatar Racing to celebrate over the weekend as both their runners in Britain were successful.

First up was Bless Him, who improved upon his debut to win a mile maiden for three-year-olds at Chelmsford on Saturday. It looked a warm race on paper and Bless Him could be called the winner after Oisin Murphy sent him to the front at the top of the straight, always holding off the late charge of the well-related Highland Cradle. Breeze-up purchase Bless Him, trained in Newmarket by David Simcock, is a promising colt and has plenty of options open to him now.

Chemical Charge gained his reward for a string of runner-up efforts last year when making a winning return in the Adwick Kingpin Conditions Stakes over a mile and a half at Doncaster on Sunday, also under Oisin. Chemical Charge had looked the pick on form beforehand, receiving weight from all bar the eventual runner-up Saigon City, but it was still great to see him win in convincing fashion for Ralph Beckett. Four second-place finishes in listed races—as well as another in a Group 3—suggests Chemical Charge can win a race at that level in the near future.