Charlie Johnston enjoyed success with Sacred Angel on the July Course yesterday and the Yorkshire-based trainer made sure the journey down was worthwhile once more as Killybegs Warrior battled on strongly to land the opening 6 Horse Challenge At bet365 Handicap.
Charlie Johnston's colt was winning for the first time since landing a seven-furlong nursery on the July Course in August last year and has been quite highly tried subsequently. The drop back into handicap company seemingly did the trick following his eleventh-place finish in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot three weeks ago.
The pace looked generous enough in the early stages with Burglar pulling his way to the front. Killybegs Warrior's stablemate Knockbrex also helped force some of the early tempo with the winner positioned just behind the front runners.
Charlie Appleby's Tagabawa looked to lay down his challenge entering the final two furlongs but faded out of contention as Killybegs Warrior battled his way to the front down the centre of the track. It soon became apparent the main danger would come from 25/1 chance Obelix, who came with a well-timed challenge under a patient Jamie Spencer, but Killybegs Warrior (22/1) was not to be denied and fought his way back to the front to score by three-quarters of a length under Kevin Stott.
The Alan King-trained Westerton finished back in third with 3/1 market leader Local Dynasty finishing fourth.
It was a seventh success in this race for a horse trained by a member of the Johnston family in the last 11 years but a first for son Charlie with his father Mark saddling six winners between 2013 and 2020.
Charlie Johnson said: "Mick Doyle [owner] has been a huge supporter of the family for the past 25 to 30 years. He loves this track, and he always wants to target his horses here. I'm absolutely delighted for him as he has been a huge supporter of the yard for a long time, and this is the perfect track and the perfect horse to have a winner for him.
"One thing we always try and do is go back to what we know has worked in the past and this horse is a perfect example. His best form is on this track. We were on a bit of a recovery mission, so we have gone back to what we know works well in the past. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.
"There was a period when I think we had five of the seven renewals (go our way) and some really good horses of ours have won it, Communique springs to mind. This horse is now three from three on this track and he clearly loves it here. I've set him some pretty difficult challenges this year like the Dante and the Hampton Court, and this was him probably at a more realistic level and he has bounced back.
"I actually thought he didn't run as badly as his finishing position suggested in the Hampton Court. He was quite a long way back and he just never really got into it. Richard (Kingscote) wasn't that hard on him in the final furlong when he wasn't going to be placed, but he was running up the back of horses and he wasn't beaten that far.
"The one real disappointment was probably the Silver Bowl at Haydock. We spent a lot of time debating whether he was a mile or a mile and a quarter horse. I think we eventually realised a mile and a quarter is his best trip.
"Newmarket and York are Mick Doyle's tracks, and we always try and target runners for him at those tracks but I might try and ask for a pass out to Goodwood between now and York."
