ANGEL Rock may be a nice prospect for a decent handicap in 2008 – that’s the view of trainer Marco Botti after the colt’s victory at Nottingham yesterday. He slugged it out in a titanic battle with Rhadegunda and emerged victorious by a neck. Botti said: “We’ve been waiting for soft ground all year with him and finally got it. “He battled well in what was a competitive handicap and appreciated the tactics. When we ran him before at Great Leighs he didn’t enjoy being held up. “He is progressive and I hope he can still improve again next year. “I will be double-checking with his owner, but from my point of view we will leave him alone until next season now. He could be a nice horse for a big handicap.” Botti was also pleased to see Bois Joli finding the winner’s enclosure at Wolverhampton last Saturday. The Orpen filly – formerly trained in Italy and a half-sister to Italian Derby winner Awelmarduk– secured her first British success, having broken her maiden at San Siro last November. Botti said: “When she came to me she was a bit free and keen. She had been running over a mile in Italy and for her first two races in England we couldn’t get her to settle. “But she has settled down now and wanted this step up in trip. She will possibly run again ahead of the December Sales where she is entered.”
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