Involvement relishes step up in trip with Newmarket triumph

A step up in class awaits Involvement after he justified 100-30 favouritism with the minimum of fuss in the bet365 Handicap at Newmarket.

Not disgraced in the Britannia at Royal Ascot last time out, he relished the extra two furlongs under Oisin Murphy.

Usually won by a decent prospect, the way Involvement, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, moved through the gears before easing away from Royal Power to win by three-quarters of a length, suggests he is booked for bigger and better things.

Mr Monaco was another three-quarters away back in third, with Aidan O’Brien’s Chantilly disappointing.

Ed Crisford said: “He likes that ground, so Oisin just said maybe don’t run him on too quick a ground again, but certainly the step up in trip has brought about the improvement.

“He didn’t run a bad race at Ascot in the Britannia, when he was just in the middle group out the back. He made a good run and just couldn’t get there but he definitely showed that day he was ready to step up to 10 (furlongs).

“Today looked like a suitable option but you’ve always got to be a good horse to win this race and he galloped out really strongly.

“We’ll have to see what the handicapper does but I imagine that will be him out of handicap company now.”