Paborus all set for Champions Day assignment

Paborus looks set for a Qatar Racing British Champions Day rematch with Haydock conqueror Almeraq, as Ed Bethell appears to have committed the smart five-year-old to sprinting.

The winner of Newcastle’s Chipchase Stakes in his first outing over six furlongs in June, he returned to his tried and tested seven furlongs for Group One action in last month’s City of York Stakes, finishing down the field behind Notable Speech.

He dropped back in trip for Haydock’s Sprint Cup, where he was clearly best of the rest behind the brilliant William Haggas-trained winner, and the pair are in line to lock horns again in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes on October 17.

Bethell said: “I’m very happy with him and he’s come out of Haydock well, so I think it is all systems go for British Champions Day.

“Unfortunately we’ll have to try to take on Almeraq again and we’ll try to latch onto his coattails and get a bit closer, but Paborus is in really good form and I’ve been delighted with how he’s come out of the race.”

The early stages of Paborus’ career were spent campaigning over seven furlongs and even a mile, but having returned from a year off the track as good as ever, Bethell believes the Wathnan Racing-owned gelding has more to give in the sprint division.

He added: “We’ve tried him over further and did a mile once, but we sort of knew a mile wouldn’t be his thing, and when we went seven furlongs in the City of York Stakes his run just seemed to peter out in the final furlong. I think at that level he does just want to be at six furlongs and allowed to sprint.

“I do think he’s getting quicker and his training at home is suggesting that too. He’s looking like he’s really learning to sprint and it’s very exciting and lovely to have a horse like him in the yard.

“He’s a very talented horse obviously and it’s great to see him show this level of form after his time off. He’s still lightly raced and hopefully there is more to come from him over the next couple of years. We’ll try to keep the wheels on the track and then go from there.”