3 minute read

Archie Watson-trained Canagat strikes at Newcastle.

Hollie Doyle wasted no time in picking up from where she left off before the lockdown as Canagat  showed plenty of determination to hold on in the Betway Casino Handicap Stakes at Newcastle.

Doyle rode over 100 winners in 2019 and was in fine form before racing was forced to shut down due to Covid-19.

She had formed a fruitful partnership with Archie Watson and the two young guns look set to be profitable to follow in 2020.

Canagat (3-1 favourite) won on his second of two outings last season and given he was blowing plenty in the paddock afterwards, he looks sure to improve for the run also.

Despite looking like being swallowed up a furlong out, with the rail to help he stuck to his task gamely to win by a neck and the same from Ayr Harbour and Jean Baptiste.

Doyle said: "It's good to be back in action and get a winner under my belt.

"Canagat was very gutsy. I thought the (Mark) Johnston horses (Overwrite and One Hart) weren't going to let me have it easy, so I let him cross over to the rail and it gave him something to aim at.

"The stamina really kicked in, he stays a lot further. He's a big unit and there's more to come."

Watson and Doyle later made it a double as Medal Winner (13-2) took the closing Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap.