Commonwealth Cup dream is alive for Coppull

Of the first three from last year's Gr.1 Middle Park to line up in Friday's Gr.3 Commonwealth Cup Trial, David Armstrong's Coppull (Bated Breath) came back strongest.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 2nd May 2026, by Tom Frary:

Smartly away under Rossa Ryan in the course-and-distance prep for Royal Ascot's three-year-old sprint feature, the 7-2 shot who had won the Richmond at Goodwood and been third in the Coventry here as well as the Middle Park surged away from the main pack passing two out and was in front soon after. Tackled by the 66-1 shot Midnight Tango on the run to the line, the Clive Cox-trained homebred battled to prevail by a neck, with the same margin back to the eye-catching third Division (Kingman) who compromised his winning chance at the break. The disappointment of the race was Godolphin's Middle Park hero Wise Approach, who failed to land a blow in fifth as the 2-1 favourite.

"We didn't go mad early and he was itching to get on with it," his jockey said. "He quickened away well and probably got a bit idle. He has really grown up a lot mentally from two to three and is going the right way."

He said: "He's going to have to step up in a Commonwealth Cup, but we haven't turned all the screws on him yet. Last year, we were calming him down a small bit but this year he's taking the right steps. Hopefully we'll have a bright future with him." Cox added: "He's wintered well, he hasn't grown a lot taller but he's got a lot stronger and matured mentally as well. He's bound to come forward for this and I'm pleased to see him start off like this. The Sandy Lane is a real possibility and a very logical step before coming back here for the Commonwealth Cup."