Coventry Stakes third Coppull (5/1) scorched his way up the stands’ rail to win the Group 2 Markel Richmond Stakes for Clive Cox and owner/breeder David Armstrong.

The son of Bated Breath led the stands’ side group as the field split into two and, once asked to lengthen by David Probert, kept finding to see off Ballydoyle representative Puerto Rico by two lengths. Windsor Castle Stakes winner Havana Hurricane was a neck further back in third.

This was a third victory in the six-furlong contest for trainer Clive Cox, following Golden Horde in 2019 and Supremacy in 2020, with both going on to win at Group 1 level afterwards.

As the race came to a close, the heavens opened, and a drenched Cox said: “I was worried about soft ground because Coppull has such a beautiful action on a nice surface. He is very quick and did that really well. For Sophie and David Armstrong, breeding these horses as well as winning these sorts of races, there is a lot of years' work gone into it. It gives me a great thrill to help them do it.

“I am still not sure Coppull will go on really soft ground. If we had been in the next race, it would have been harder work, but he is still very good and showcased that today. I think he is very gifted, similarly to that pair [Supremacy and Golden Horde]. He is a proper six-furlong horse, so usual plans from here and the Middle Park will be the end goal.

“He has a bit of size and scope and I don't see any reason why he won't make up into a really nice three-year-old as well. He really did appreciate the time between Ascot and here and I think there is more to come with the right behaviour."

Probert, who leaves for Hong Kong at the end of August, said: “Coppull had come on really well for his third in the Coventry, where he was a little bit keen. It was nice to see him relax here, and this track probably suited him a little better as it’s slightly sharper.

“The plan was to get as close as we could to the stands’ rail, which I thought would be even more of an advantage to him than some as he is still quite a raw horse and it was only his third start. He got into an even rhythm from the start and was accelerating nicely in the last furlong and a half. He is a progressive two-year-old and has a good mind about him.

“I am getting on some nice horses right now, so it is a bit of a shame that I’m off to Hong Kong next month, but I’ve been lucky enough to ride some very nice horses throughout my career. Clive has been giving me a chance this season and it is a great yard to be a part of. I can’t thank him and Andrew [Balding] enough as they’ve given me so many chances. I fly on August 28th, so I have another four weeks and I will be here for York.”

Aidan O’Brien said of Puerto Rico: “I am very happy with that. It was a lovely run. I would say he would be happy going up to seven furlongs.’’

Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of Havana Hurricane, said: ‘‘He has run a lovely race. The soft ground has just caught him out. He hasn’t got the same electric turn of foot like he shows when it is firm ground. He is so game and still tried. He is in the Gimcrack Stakes at York but that will probably be a bit too soon, so then there is the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.’’