Cox keeps faith in Royal Ascot bound Bear Clive Cox expects to see a much-improved performance from Kodi Bear in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. Sent off third favourite to make a winning return in the Lockinge at Newbury earlier this month, the four-year-old failed to get competitive when finishing a never-nearer seventh. With a run now under his belt, the Lambourn handler is optimistic the son of Kodiac can show his true colours in the Royal Ascot Group One on June 14. He said: "There were no secrets that Kodi Bear needed the run. "He had been working with horses that had been running well in the top flight. "He did surprise me as we had taken him away from home for two gallops and he had done more work at home than most horses in preparation for the Lockinge. "He might have just been doing a bit too easy, though, and against Group One performers it just told first time out. "I am pleased with the way that he has come out of the race and he has come back very well. "I don't think there is any doubting his ability and I still hold him in high regard. "There is no real alternative to the Queen Anne now and bearing in mind he did need his first run, I'm hoping he can take a step forward and come back to form at Ascot."
