Racing: Channon has Royal Ascot in his sights

TWO OF Mick Channon's best two-year-olds go on display in the next fortnight and the Kingsdown trainer has Royal Ascot on his mind as he sends the recent winners Ma Yoram and Cotton House to Ascot and Salisbury respectively.

While it is nearly impossible for the trainer to replace Bint Allayl, who died in the winter, the trainer sees both Ma Yoram and Cotton House as possibles for the Royal meeting.

Of Ma Yoram, who made all to score easily on his debut at Kempton on Easter Saturday, Channon observed: "We expected him to do it as smoothly as that and the next step will give him experience of Ascot as I intend running him in the Garter Stakes there on 28 April."

"Cotton House is a pretty good filly and she's in great heart. While she might not be another Bint Allayl she's come on in leaps and bounds since her debut win at Warwick. The plan is to take her to Salisbury on 2 May and then go for the Queen Mary."

One Channon-trained two-year-old who will be resting on his laurels for a few weeks is Alfailak, so convincing on his introduction to racing at the Newmarket Craven meeting.

"He did it like a real professional," Channon said. "But he wants six furlongs and I've decided to hang on to him until the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Derby Day."

Channon has also given Golden Silca the go ahead for a crack at the 1,000 Guineas following her second to Wince in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury. "Richard Quinn said we'd have beaten the winner if Golden Silca had settled better and not got first run on her. It wasn't an ideal preparation as she jumped out as if it was a six-furlong sprint."