Saddler's Rock is Goodwood hero Saddler's Rock delighted favourite backers at Glorious Goodwood when claiming the Artemis Goodwood Cup on Thursday. John Oxx's four year old had looked a slightly unlucky loser at Ascot when beaten just three quarters of a length behind Colour Vision on ground that was slower than ideal and was well supported to gain revenge with a 4lb swing in the weights in his favour. Johnny Murtagh always had the son of Sadler's Wells well-placed as he led the pack chasing pacemakers Electrolyser and Chiberta King who set a searching gallop. Murtagh closed right up on that pair at the top of the straight but it wasn't until the leaders were passing the two furlong pole that his mount managed to nose in front. Electrolyser and Chiberta King both tried to rally while Colour Vision (who had been under pressure a long way from home), Simenon and the strong-travelling Times Up all began to make ground. Askar Tau was another to get involved late in the day but, try as they might, none of the pursuers ever quite looked like mustering the necessary pace to get to the 2-1 market leader who had a length in hand at the line. Murtagh said: "We thought it was going to be a big year for this horse and it didn't start great in Ascot, but thankfully he redeemed himself today. "He's a lovely little stayer and he's got that turn of foot, especially on this ground. "He's not very big but he's all heart and very straightforward and he's improving all the time. "When you're riding nice horses like this it makes it easy." Sky Bet cut Saddler's Rock to 3-1 from 4s for the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup.
