CHAMPION apprentice Jason Watson has been recruited as stable jockey by Roger Charlton and the partnership struck for the first time when Forbidden Planet, 4/1, ran out a most convincing winner of the Matchbook Betting Podcast Rosebery Handicap at Kempton on Saturday.

Twice a winner on the all-weather before finishing second (under Ryan Moore) in a muddling four-runner affair, Forbidden Planet looked different class here, waiting behind Nayel and Count Calabah before quickening to lead two furlongs out and surging clear to bear Pipes Of Peace comfortably. He has clearly improved considerably since joining Charlton.

“We’re set up to have a good season with Jason, I hope,” the Beckhampton trainer said. “I need to make sure the owners are on board as a lot don’t know him well, but I think he is talented.”

Watson was returning to the scene of a nasty accident in January when he sustained two hairline neck fractures. He is fully over the injury now.

The ambitious long-term plan for Hugo Palmer’s Mootasadir, 4/1 winner of the Listed Magnolia Stakes over 10 furlongs, is the Melbourne Cup. He was ridden by Ben Curtis, who followed up on Probability for Archie Watson.

3,000 UP FOR NICHOLLS

Paul Nicholls, close to winning the trainers’ championship for the 11th time, made it 3,000 career winners under both codes when Dr Sanderson scored at Ludlow on Monday.

“When I started out in 1991 I’d have said it was the stuff dreams are made of that we’d be celebrating 3,000 winners or anything like it,” he said.