'You just get on with the tools you've got' - Channon reaches 2,500 Flat winners

Mick Channon admitted that competition is "fierce" nowadays as he reflected on reaching the landmark of 2,500 winners on the Flat in Britain.

The former England international moved into racing after he retired from football and had just ten horses when he took out his first licence in Lambourn in 1989.

He has trained numerous Group 1 winners, including Piccolo, Queen's Logic, Tobougg, as well as three-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Youmzain, and reached 2,500 when Legend Of Xanadu landed a Listed race at Doncaster on Saturday.

"A lot of water has gone under the bridge since 1989 but you just get on with the tools you've got and that's all I've ever done," Channon said on Sunday.

"I've been lucky over the years and we've had lots of good horses and we're still looking for them. I still enjoy it and you've got to have a reason to get up in the morning!"

Legend Of Xanadu: hit the landmark for Mick Channon at Doncaster on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Channon, 73, moved to his current West Ilsley base in 1999 and won his first Classic when Samitar took the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2012.

"It certainly hasn't got any easier and the competition is fierce," he added. "There are so many good trainers and nothing gets missed any more. The times have changed and people have got a bit more savvy and know where the good horses are.

"Gill Richardson and I used to buy a lot of horses but the horses we used to buy the breeze-up boys snap up now. And they can pay a lot more money."

Asked to nominate his highlight among the 2,500 winners, Channon said: "Legend Of Xanadu! It's no good looking too far back, you've got to keep going forward."

However, he is set to bid farewell to the two-year-old, who landed his third win in 13 starts on Saturday, and said: "He's in the sales next week and he should make some money as he's a good horse and a good-looking one. If you look back at his form, he's been a very unlucky horse."

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