Cheveley Park switch attention to Flat with Classic hopefuls

Fresh from coming close with Grangeclare West in Saturday’s Grand National, the Cheveley Park Stud colours will be carried in two Classic trials at Newbury this weekend by Formal and Chancellor.

Formal was trained at two by Sir Michael Stoute but upon his retirement has been moved to Andrew Balding and having won her first two starts, she went on to finish fourth in the Rockfel Stakes.

Chancellor also won two of his three starts at two for John and Thady Gosden and the plan was to give him a fourth run in the Champagne Stakes but he broke out of the stalls at Doncaster, forcing his withdrawal.

“They have both wintered well,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of the stud.

“Obviously, Chancellor has tested us in the past given what he did at Doncaster, but we know he has got the ability, so we will have to see what happens.

“We may as well start with a view to where we hope he might end up.

“It’s nice to have two in the trials. The filly hasn’t grown much over the winter. She wasn’t overly big, but I’m told she doesn’t ride like a small horse – whatever that means!

“Obviously, she has switched trainers having gone from Sir Michael to Andrew – he seems happy with her, so I think in both cases it is fact-finding missions really.”