'The summer is not summer without Chester' - Koukash bemoans loss of May meeting

Magic Circle, the horse who waltzed to Chester Cup victory for owner Marwan Koukash in 2018, has been switched from Ian Williams to Richard Fahey by his owner in a bid to reignite his form.

The eight-year-old's Chester Cup win came on his first start for Williams after moving from Ralph Beckett's yard, and Koukash is hoping his latest switch can bring more success.

"We thought a change of scenery might do him some good so we have sent him to Richard Fahey's," said Koukash. "I was really looking forward to running him in the Chester Cup, but unfortunately that isn't going to happen in May – hopefully they might be able to rearrange it for later in the season."

Marwan Koukash celebrates after Magic Circle gave him a fourth win in the Chester CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Magic Circle's 2018 campaign kicked off in style in the Chester Cup before he went on to land the spoils in the Group 3 Henry VII Stakes at Sandown later that month. He was then kept fresh for tilt at the Melbourne Cup, with the 6-1 shot finishing well beaten in 14th, and the eight-year-old failed to show the same spark in his two starts last season.

Koukash believes there were excuses for those poor runs last campaign and that the eight-year-old is over them. The owner is looking forward to getting him going again once the coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, and a return to Australia is still on the radar.

"The Melbourne Cup is still part of his plans," added the owner. "He has tons of ability but just suffered last season from some fitness issues, which are all sorted now. He doesn't have a lot of mileage on the clock so he should have a good season."

'The sport will come back stronger'

Koukash has long been associated with winners at his beloved Chester and although he is upset about the May meeting not being able to go ahead, he is confident that the sport will return stronger once the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

"The summer is not summer as a result of not being able to race at Chester in May," said the owner. "But we are well and alive, safe and well and racing will come along again and hopefully we can return to normal when it is safe to do so. The sport will come back stronger."

Koukash has a range of different business ventures, all of which have been affected by the coronavirus in different ways.

He added: "Whether it is hotels, training or developments everything has been brought to a halt all of a sudden, so hopefully things can return to normal soon."

Koukash has had 111 winners from 1,181 runners in Britain over the past five seasons and is constantly looking to grow his talented team.

When asked about those he was looking forward to this campaign, he said: "I was really looking forward to seeing The New Marwan – he could be a really nice three-year-old and, of course, Magic Circle."

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