A ‘WONDERFUL’ horse has seen his odds slashed for Champions Day at Ascot – after Ryan Moore was booked to ride for some legendary owners.
James’s Delight has been backed from 33s into as short as 12-1 for the 6f Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.
Paul and Clare Rooney, right, top horse owners with reportedly ‘colossal wealth’, will hope Ryan Moore can steer their sprinter to glory[/caption]
Moore steered the three-year-old gelding to a comfortable victory at York in June before Clifford Lee bagged a Listed contest on soft at Deauville the following month.
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James’s Delight was then given a 50-day break and beaten just a short neck at Grade 3 level over very soft ground when returning again at the French track.
He might need to up his game again for the Ascot Group 1 but anything is possible with Moore in the saddle.
And punters think James’s Delight’s proven effectiveness over soft ground shows he is a good punt.
His powerful connections – who are said to have ‘colossal wealth‘ – suggest he’s worthy of a look as well.
Paul and Clare Rooney finished runner up in the 2016 Grand National and had a Cheltenham Festival win before quitting the jumps in 2020.
They focused solely on the Flat after that and enjoyed Royal Ascot success with the likes of My Dream Boat.
The couple are back into National Hunt now – while also keeping their Flat interests going.
And they could just have a lively outsider in James’s Delight.
After his win at York, trainer Clive Cox said: “That was wonderful, I’m so pleased. It was a very confident ride from Ryan, as always.
“The way that he changed gear there today fills me full of excitement.
“James’s Delight does appreciate the ground, although he won on good ground on Guineas day at Newmarket he prefers this end of the scale.”
While after his Group 3 second in August, Cox added: “James’s Delight enjoys the soft ground and we have an entry in the Champions Day Sprint.
“We’re forecast some hotter temperatures so we’ll play our cards accordingly.”
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