Cannock Chase could step up to Pattern company next time

A Group race in Deauville or the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York next month are among the options for Sir Michael Stoute's progressive three-year-old Cannock Chase. The lightly-raced colt has had a pretty easy time of things since taking the step up from maiden and handicap company to Group Three level in his stride with an emphatic victory in the Tercentenary Stakes. Cannock Chase will now be steadily be brought back to peak fitness for a return to action though connections feel it may not be until next year that he will reach his full potential. "He's not had a serious gallop since Ascot. He's just been doing general exercise and we're very pleased with him," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail. "Sir Michael is thinking of entering for a Group race over a mile and a quarter at Deauville (Prix Guillaume D'Ornano, August 15) and he's in the Voltigeur. "Potentially he's a good horse. He's a typical Stoute horse for next year. He's keeping that horse low profile this year."