Certain Lad

“Certain Lad was always a good horse, he won the Strensall as a four-year-old but had a couple of nasty injuries at five and six. This is the first year he's come into a season with no injury. He's sound and well, and a happy horse. He's got a great mind and is easy to train because he wants to do it. The two races for him are the Preis von Europa over a mile and a half or the Prix Dollar. I think I'll probably lean towards the Prix Dollar, but I'd love to run him in a Group 1 at some stage. He'll stay in training at nine and we'll see if he retains the same zest. We might have a look at something like the Prix Ganay at the start of the year. He's an eight-year-old and I won't have too much longer with him, so we won't mess around, we'll run him in some nice races - Jack Channon, trainer.”

“Certain Lad was rated 112, he's come back down to 100 (before York) and he's back to a mark he can win off, it's as simple as that really. He's still a very good horse, even at seven. He was a Listed winner as a two-year-old, he was third in the Railway Stakes and has won in Dubai. The handicapping system is there for a reason, he's come down and won two very nice races now. It has been discussed in the office a few times, whether we missed this and went straight to the November Handicap. Let's see how he comes out of this as he's had a couple of quick runs there. If he's bouncing, which I'm sure he will be knowing him, we might have a little look at it, if not we'll keep a mile and a half up our sleeve for next year because he loves racing and he's as good an advocate as you could have for racing, so he'll be carrying on next year as well - Jack Channon, trainer.”

“Certain Lad gave me a great ride. He was stepping down in trip and he settled really well. He hit a bit of a flat spot three and a half down but we came across to the stands' side and he was very tough, once I got daylight he really ran to the line for me. The further I went the better and he thrived on the ground - Hollie Doyle, jockey.”

“Certain Lad is improving with every run. He does everything a horse should do to get himself beat, but he keeps winning. In the prelims he gets very warm and is notorious for it. He gets hot and sweaty, but it doesn't seem to bother him in the race. He ran a bit fresh and keen the first two furlongs, but once he got into a rhythm, I was delighted. He picked them up well and kept going all the way to the line - Ben Curtis, jockey.”