ANDREW Balding’s Fox Chairman didn’t really need to improve to win a weak listed race at Newbury on Saturday from Karl Burke’s Pondus, but he posted a smart time in winning by a length from that progressive rival. Ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, the Kingman colt drifted left late on but was well on top from the runner-up, who didn’t do himself justice in the “Ascot Derby”.

Fox Chairman holds an entry in the Great Voltigeur at York next month, and given he’s not been seen to best effect a couple of times this season, it would take a brave man to say he’s overmatched against St Leger hopefuls.