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RACING: Unlucky Channon blocked out
2:44pm Wednesday 7th May 2008
West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon was left to rue one that got away after Nahoodh's unlucky defeat in the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
The daughter of Clodovil flashed home under Richard Hughes to finish fifth behind French winner Natagora, but may well have won the fillies' Classic with a clear run.
Channon still remains without a British Classic success despite having many attempts, but took defeat on the chin.
He said: "If I'd stopped her, I couldn't have done a better job!
"No-one's dead, so let's move on. It's a long season."
Hughes, meanwhile, was adamant he would have won on the 33-1 chance had he not been blocked in against the stands rail during the final furlong.
Channon enjoyed better fortune with Moss Likely, who gave him his first juvenile winner of the campaign with victory at Lingfield, and Stop On, who took a Folkestone maiden.
Back at Newmarket, Wantage trainer Henry Candy's Duntulm produced an extraordinary performance to take a one-mile handicap after losing around 12 lengths by sitting down in the gates.
Fortunately the field only set off at a modest pace, and Dane O'Neill's mount got back into contention with enough in the tank to hold Flawed Genius by a neck.
Candy, who is to aim his charge at Royal Ascot's Britannia Handicap, said: "He is a playboy who wants some practice, but he is a playboy with ability."
The Kingstone Warren handler continued his fine start to the season by sending out Killcara Boy to spring a 22-1 surprise in a mile and half maiden at Salisbury, with O'Neill again in the saddle.
Blewbury trainer Eve Johnson Houghton also has her string in fine fettle with Mujood repeating last year's win in a six-furlong handicap at Goodwood.
It was a last-gasp win as the five-year-old got up in the final stride under Stephen Carson to beat Savile's Delight by a short head.
Johnson Houghton and Carson struck again when Support Fund gained a deserved success in a seven-furlong fillies' handicap at Warwick.
Whatcombe trainer Paul Cole's runners have been in cracking form and he racked up a 36-1 across-the-card treble on Bank Holiday Monday.
Shampagne set the ball rolling with victory at Kempton, Trans Siberian scored at Windsor, and Precision Break completed the hat-trick at Warwick.
Now You See Me regained the winning thread for Fernham trainer Kevin McAuliffe by taking a five-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton under Robert Winston.
And Vicky Cartmel, who won the Bathwick Tyres Lady Jockeys Championship last season, notched her first winner in this year's series with victory aboard Glencal at Salisbury for East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison.
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