Royal Ascot next for Big Country after second big handicap hit of the year

It's Royal Ascot next for the Mick Appleby-trained Big Country, who landed his second valuable handicap of the year when taking the Racing UK Zetland Gold Cup under an inspired ride from champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa.

Having already taken the valuable Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton in March for owners The Horse Watchers, the five-year-old was racing off a mark of 103 in the £50,000 contest and, although the plan had been to drop him in a bit, De Sousa found himself in front after the start and was able to dictate the fractions.

Although the hold-up horses swooped late on, Big Country held on to get home by half a length and bring his career earnings to nearly £150,000 – quite a return considering he was bought for 28,000gns at Newmarket in October 2016.