Channon to hand training reins to son Jack in new year

Mick Channon has announced he will hand over his training operation to son Jack from the new year. Channon, 73, first took out a licence in 1989 and recently saddled the 2,500th winner of his career on the Flat in Britain.

Formerly a top-class footballer for Southampton, Norwich, Manchester City and England, he also reached the top in his second career - winning Group Ones with the likes of Piccolo, Zafeen, Tobougg and Queen's Logic.

He came so close to landing the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with Youmzain finishing runner-up on a remarkable three occasions.

Channon said: "The licence will be handed over to Jack as from the start of next year.

"It's been a great way of life for over 30 years and I can't thank everyone that has helped us enough. I couldn't have got there without them.

"I started with 10 horses in Lambourn where we had a great time, and Jack was born there. We had some good horses and good people work for us.

"When I came in I was a footballer entering the big horrible world of horse racing, but we thought if we bought some sharp two-year-olds we would have a chance of making it.

"Everyone does that now, but we had Gill Richardson who was a great judge at the sales and bought us a lot of nice horses. I have to thank her and Gill Hedley, who still runs the show, and also Peter Tain and Patrick Trant.

"We bought a lot of cheap horses for Jaber Abdullah such as Queen's Logic, Flashy Wings and Music Show, as well as Zafeen who was second in the Guineas and won the St James's Palace Stakes. Jaber was brilliant."

Youmzain's first Arc run saw him beaten just a head by Dylan Thomas, a result confirmed after a lengthy stewards' inquiry into interference caused by the winner.

"Youmzain was a very good older horse who,