Racing: Channon sees a double on the box

Followers of Mick Channon's West Ilsley team were rewarded with an 8-1 double through Royal Desert and Boga in the first two races at blustery Bath, although the trainer missed the celebrations and followed the action at home on television.

Royal Desert flew out of the gate and was never headed in the five furlong Lindley Catering Maiden Auction Stakes to land the prize for the former England, Southampton and Bristol Rovers striker, now a regular scorer at the track.

Tony Culhane was always in control on the two year old and finished two lengths clear of Yer Woman, a promising newcomer for Marlborough trainer Richard Hannon.

"He is a bit nervous but acted on the going and should get further," said Culhane.

Channon struck again when Boga, carrying the colours of Bath-based professional punter Harry Findlay, ran on well to beat Kate Skate, from the Whatcombe yard of Paul Cole, by one-and-a-quarter lengths in the Lindley Catering Selling Stakes.

Tom O'Shea sent the filly into the lead close to home, having played a waiting game in the early stages.

"Tom did well to get her out of the gate and the tactics paid off," said Findlay, who had to go to 15,000 guineas at auction to retain Boga, which made a dent in his winnings.

Dressed to Dance completed an across-the-card double in the Event Mobile Catering Selling Stakes for Abergavenny handler David Evans, who was at Chester with the successful Star Rover.

His son Richard came with a late run on the five-year-old mare to win by a neck from Caribbean Coral, trained by Andy Haynes at Limpley Stoke, with Milton Bradley's Mr Rev a close third.

After more lively bidding Evans lost Dressed to Dance to a bid of 7,200 guineas from Chepstow trainer Ron Harris.

Louis-Philippe Beuzelin took the final race, the digibet.co.uk Handicap, on Kyllachy Storm, trained by Somerset handler Ronald Hodges. Bradley saddled both the second and third-placed horses, Triple Dream and Mr Forthright.