Promising No Nay Never Filly Goes One Better At Ascot

Clochette (2f No Nay Never - Handbell, by Acclamation) built on an eye-catching debut to land the six furlong fillies’ novice stakes at Ascot on Friday.

The Andrew Balding-trained bay suffered a luckless passage at Newbury last month, but flew home to finish a close second, with the winner having since gained black-type. Andrea Atzeni left nothing to chance this time, riding the daughter of No Nay Never to make all and asked his mount to quicken approaching the final furlong. Keeping on well, she justified favouritism by a neck and confirmed the form with runner-up Aunt Violet.

Owned and bred by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Clochette hails from No Nay Never’s most exciting crop of juveniles to date. Bred off the back of a champion first season title, his current two-year-olds include dual Group winner Blackbeard (No Nay Never) and impressive Round Tower Stakes winner Little Big Bear (No Nay Never), who is now favourite for the 2023 2,000 Guineas. Alcohol Free (No Nay Never) continues to fly the flag for No Nay Never’s earlier crop, having recorded her fourth Group 1 success in the July Cup earlier this month.