Unbeaten Footsteps juvenile Royal Ascot bound after York win

Wednesday’s novice stakes at York was billed as the best juvenile event run in Britain so far this season but there was only going to be one winner, the Mick Channon-trained Gatepost (2c Footstepsinthesand-Mandama, by Warning).

The Footstepsinthesand colt had easily won a Folkestone maiden on his first start last month and looked impressive at York as he beat previous winner Hamza by two and a half lengths.

“Jamie Spencer says he's crying out for six furlongs already,” Channon’s son Michael told Press Association Sport. “He got a bump coming out of the stalls, which didn't help, and he also idled in front.

“We all came here thinking he had a decent horse and for us to win it is very encouraging. If he's going to try six furlongs, the G2 Coventry Stakes is the race for him at Royal Ascot, but that's the trainer's job.”

Gatepost, who is owned by Dr Marwan Koukash, was bred by Michael Doyle, and sold for 20,000 euros as a yearling at Tattersalls Ireland in September.

There was nearly a double for Footstepsinthesand when the gutsy Barefoot Lady (3f Footstepsinthesand-Lady Angharad, by Tenby) was beaten a head in the G3 Musidora Stakes.