Elementary for Watson as big-race winners keep coming

Another big Saturday handicap, another big winner for Jason Watson, who showed nerves of steel to come from well off the pace to land the 20-runner £80,000 Cunard Handicap aboard Ripp Orf.

Despite fearing he was on the slowest ground racing in the smaller stands’ side group, Watson and the David Elsworth-trained Ripp Orf bridged the gap to the leaders effortlessly and were perhaps even good value for their half-length winning margin at the line.

“They divided into two groups and if anything I’d have liked to have been on the far rail where it's quicker ground, but they went a good enough gallop and he battled on hard,” said Watson, who also took the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last month.