Clive Cox showed he is a man to follow in the sprinting division once again as Coppull announced himself as a Royal Ascot contender with victory in the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes.
The son of Bated Breath won the Richmond Stakes at two before ending his season with an honourable third in the Middle Park at Newmarket in the autumn.
He reversed form with those ahead of him on the Rowley Mile here, first chasing down the front-running Ghost Mode, then quickening again to hold off Ed Walker's fast-finishing 66-1 shot Midnight Tango to register a neck victory in the hands of Rossa Ryan. It was the same distance back to the eyecatching Division in third.
Having scored at odds of 7-2 he was slashed in the betting for the Commonwealth Cup itself back at Ascot in the summer – a race Cox has won previously with Golden Horde.
However, first he may make a trip to Haydock for the Sandy Lane Stakes on 23 May.
Cox, who won this race two years ago with Jasour, said: "That was fantastic and it was good to start the year off with him like that.
"He was very pleasing last year and it was great to win the Richmond like he did at Goodwood. We took a bit of a sideways step in the Prix Morny, but finishing off in the Middle Park as he did was really encouraging.
"He’s wintered well, he hasn’t grown a lot taller but he’s got a lot stronger and matured mentally as well.
"I was really impressed with how he quickened twice there as he kind of idled a little bit but got going again. He battled back well and I’m really proud of him.
"We’ve had a good spring with him, but 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 at Royal Ascot."
Sweet William proved he is still going strong by digging deep to hold off Caballo De Mar in a thrilling finish to the Longines Sagaro Stakes.
John and Thady Gosden's seven-year-old has long been a stalwart of the staying scene, signing off 2025 with a second victory in the Doncaster Cup and a second to stablemate Trawlerman on British Champions Day.
And having been sent off the 5-6 favourite for his comeback run was given a fine ride by Robert Havlin, holding on by a short head to book his ticket back to the Berkshire track for the Royal meeting.
Thady Gosden said: "He’s a smashing horse and he’s a year older but still retains all his enthusiasm.
"He’s beaten a very good horse there and the front two have come a long way clear of the third.
"He’s a horse who likes to keep you guessing so he was quite happy to stick his head up going up the straight and after two miles round there I think the jockey was having a good blow too afterwards."
Jonquil served a reminder of his class with an impressive victory in the Memberships At Ascot Paradise Stakes.
Andrew Balding's four-year-old was an early-season scorer last term when winning the Greenham and the 100-30 joint-favourite proved best fresh once again as he emerged from winter quarters in style.
Ridden with confidence by Juddmonte number one Colin Keane, the son of Lope De Vega showed a race-winning turn of foot to scoot home a cosy length and a quarter clear of Karl Burke’s proven performer Holloway Boy. Owen Burrows’ Remmooz was back in third.
Balding said: "Colin did a beautiful job and got him switched off and as he showed in the Greenham last year and in the French Guineas, he’s a high-class horse when things go right for him.
"He’s talented and although he was a bit in and out last year, when he was good he ran cracking races in ones that take some winning.
"Hopefully we can get some fast ground later in the year and land a big one. He was good early in the season last year and the way he has found his form in the last month at home would suggest maybe he is better at this time of year. But he did have a tough campaign last year through no fault of his own.
"If we get a clear run now, hopefully he will prove he is a decent horse."
