Gunship fires in another win to spark Royal Ascot ambitions

James Ferguson is playing the waiting game to see if promising colt Gunship can secure his trip to Royal Ascot after a tidy success in the 1m2f handicap. 

The three-year-old 13-8 favourite claimed his second course success by three-quarters of a length from War Hawk and, while he is unlikely to take up his Irish Derby entry, a step up in class is guaranteed after winning cosily under Danny Muscutt. 

"We've always thought a lot of him and things just haven't gone his way, but he's still improving," Ferguson said. "He could step up in trip if we want him to, but I think he's pretty versatile as he showed he has a turn of foot. 

"He hasn't learned the game yet. He doesn't always travel the strongest but as soon as the penny dropped, Danny could give him a breather and he saw it out well."

Royal Ascot is the desired destination for the Sea The Stars colt but Ferguson will bide his time before fully committing to a new target. 

"We'll wait to see what the handicapper does," the trainer said. "In an ideal world you'd go for an Ascot handicap and there's plenty of time before that, so if we wanted to run at York at the end of the month we could do that too. It's a long season, but if we can get into Ascot we'll go there with a fighting chance."

Fantastic Ferrous

Ferrous enhanced his fine reputation on the all-weather with a gusty success in the £75,000 6f handicap under Callum Rodriguez. 

The five-year-old struck the front in the dying stages of the feature contest to complete a hat-trick for Jack Channon following wins at Southwell and Lingfield.  

Soho Square (far side) surges clear under Danny Muscutt at NewcastleCredit: Grossick Racing

Soho strikes

Soho Square was a well-beaten 125-1 shot on her debut last year but started her new campaign with aplomb when striking at 8-1 in the 7f fillies' novice stakes. The three-year-old completed a double for Muscutt with a narrow victory over Hello Goodbye.  

Ban for Billy

Billy Loughnane was handed an 11-day suspension in the 7f fillies' novice stakes, where he finished third on favourite Orange Sky. The jockey was found to have caused interference with the unplaced Lorna B and will be out of action from May 26 until June 5.

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