FORTY-eight hours before heading to Cardiff to see his beloved Southampton FC in the FA Cup Final, former Saint Mick Channon was proving he is still a winner when Master Robbie - the 16/1 shot trained by the footballer-turned-race horse supremo at his West Ilsley stables - romped home in the closing race of the day at Salisbury.
After a disappointing show at Lingfield the previous weekend, Master Robbie had opened the day at 33/1.
Earlier, the John Gosden-trained Nyramba impressed in the Knights & Co Maiden Stakes and her connections confirmed the juvenile, ridden at Salisbury by Jimmy Fortune, may now be heading to Royal Ascot for a shot at the Queen Mary Stakes after beating the hot favourite Toronto Heights.
One favourite who had no such problems was Sir Michael Stoute's Rainbow City who won the day's opening race much to the delight of those who had backed it at 6/5.
Paul Scallon hit the front two furlongs out on Hey Presto (12/1) and never looked in any danger of failing to land the Dutton Gregory Handicap Stakes for which Channon's Patandon Girl started as 100/30 favourite.
Honour Rouge ensured another upset in the four-horse Portway & Indesit Fillies' Rated Stakes, when just holding on to beat 6/5 favourite Silence Is Golden.
The 33/1 shot Polden Chief, partly-owned by Andover-based Toby Balding, won the fifth race of the day at Salisbury - the Steve & Mandie Yallop Tenth Wedding Anniversary Claimning Stakes.
The horse was only entered in the claimer as he is so lowly rated that he keeps being eliminated from handicaps.
Three other horses including the placed One Way Ticket and Zouche were also claimed.
The Netherhampton track's next meeting is on Tuesday, June 10 when the first race of the day starts at 2pm.
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