Cay Verde too good for the Irish

Cay Verde a £27,000 purchase by Jill Richardson at Doncaster last August, was a well-backed participant for the Emirates Equestrian European Breeders Fund Marble Hill Stakes and he proved well up to the job under Richard Hughes at the Curragh.

The victorious Bahamian Bounty colt was always on the pace and he looked a winner when taking over from under two furlongs out on the way to a three parts of a length dismissal of Dylanbaru

Hughes said: "He's a fabulous little horse and I always thought I was doing too much in front. He had a little look towards the end but that was okay."

Winning trainer Mick Channon said: "He's a smashing little horse – he's not very big but he has a lot of quality.

"He's improving the whole time and he just has so much ability and speed. He idled in front which is a little bit of a worry and he'll probably go to Royal Ascot now for the Norfolk.

"I don't think he'd go over six but I'd suppose we'll have a look at the Coventry – I have another couple of nice ones for that as well.

"My two-year-olds have been going great on bad ground at the start of the season. Normally though they like the ground on top and I couldn't believe my luck when I got here."

He joked: "Aidan (O'Brien) hadn't watered."

Meanwhile on Henrietta Knight's retirement, he commented: "It's sad that she's retiring but she's not dead, don't worry about that.

"She was up my gallops this morning and she still has a lot of enthusiasm.

"There's a lot of nice young horses there – obviously Terry (Biddlecombe) hasn't been very well – there's a lot on contributing factors.

"Tell Willie Mullins and all to start worrying as Mick Channon is on the prowl." (GC & EM)