Clive Cox’s Coppull coped with a humongous downpour on the Sussex Downs to give his handler a third success in the Markel Richmond Stakes.

Having landed the prize with Golden Horde in 2019 and Supremacy in 2020, Clive Cox returned for another crack at the Richmond Stakes with Coppull, who arguably brought the best form to the table following his third-place finish behind Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes.

Always towards the fore on the near side, the David Armstrong-owned and bred son of Bated Breath picked up well under David Probert in the final stages to score by a commanding two lengths from Aidan O'Brien's Puerto Rico, who was filling the runner-up spot for a third successive outing.

Eve Johnson Houghton's Havana Hurricane looked as though he was going to play a major role in proceedings when quickening up into contention, but he ultimately failed to sustain his challenge and had to settle for the bronze medal.

A soaked through Clive Cox said: "I was worried about soft ground because he has such a beautiful action on a nice surface. He is very quick and did that really well.

"For Sophie and David Armstrong, breeding these horses as well as winning these sorts of races, there is a lot of years' work gone into it. It gives me a great thrill to help them do it."

Cox, who won the race with Supremacy and Golden Horde, added: "I am still not sure he will go on really soft ground. If we had been in the next race, it would have been harder work, but he is still very good and showcased that today. I think he is very gifted, similarly to that pair [Supremacy and Golden Horde].

"He is a proper six-furlong horse, so usual plans from here and the Middle Park will be the end goal.

"He has a bit of size and scope, and I don't see any reason why he won't make up into a really nice three-year-old as well. He really did appreciate the time between Ascot and here and I think there is more to come with the right behaviour."

Whilst Coppull looks like sticking to six-furlongs, Aidan O'Brien will look to stepping up Puerto Rico to seven furlongs.

He said: "I am very happy with that. It was a lovely run. I would say he would be happy going up to seven furlongs.''

As for the third-place horse, Havana Hurricane, Eve Johnson Houghton was left ruing what potentially could have been had the rain stayed away.

''He has run a lovely race. The soft ground has just caught him out," she said. "He hasn't got the same electric turn of foot like he shows when it is firm ground.

"He is so game and still tried. He is in the Gimcrack Stakes at York but that will probably be a bit too soon, so then there is the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.''