Mick Channon is hoping Malabar can emulate Samitar by winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas for his West Ilsley stables at the Curragh on Sunday.

Samitar provided the former England footballer with his finest hour since becoming a racehorse trainer when capturing the fillies’ Classic three years ago.

And now he is eyeing up a repeat with Malabar, who finished a promising fourth to Legatissimo in the Qipco 1000 Guineas on her reappearance at Newmarket earlier this month.

Channon said: “I was delighted with her run in the Guineas as it is hard to go to the race without a prep race, as all the trials meant she would have had to carry a penalty.

“She ran a blinder for her first run of the season and she has come on an awful lot since the Guineas. We are very pleased with her and expect more to come.”

Meanwhile, the West Ilsley handler believes Elidor could be in for a big year after the five-year-old returned to winning ways at Newmarket on Saturday.

The 11-2 chance defied top weight in a handicap over a mile and six furlongs by staying on powerfully to beat Aramist by two and a quarter lengths and kick-start a 327-1 four-timer for William Buick.

Channon said: “That’s the Elidor we know and William gave him a super ride.

“He’ll obviously go up (in the handicap) for this win, but I’m not too concerned because I think this could be a big year for him.

“We’ll look at all of the obvious targets, with the Ebor very much a priority.”

West Ilsley neighbour Denis Coakley was also among the winners with Steppe Daughter, who romped home by seven lengths in a Bath maiden stakes under Oisin Murphy.

The four-year-old daughter of Steppe Dancer cruised home by seven lengths from Glasgow Central in a maiden stakes over a mile and two furlongs.

A deluge at Salisbury, which turned the going soft proved no handicap to Imperial Link, who got off the mark at the ninth attempt for Whatcombe trainer Paul Cole in a seven-furlong claiming stakes.

The three-year-old responded well to apprentice Aaron Jones’s urgings to bound home by two lengths from Orlando Rogue.

Blewbury trainer Noel Williams posted his first success of the new jumps season when Kincora Fort broke his duck at Kempton.

The six-year-old landed a handicap hurdle over two miles and six furlongs by three and a quarter lengths in the hands of James Banks.