Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs delighted connections in a gallop before racing at Newmarket on Friday to book his ticket to next weekend's Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

The John Gosden-trained Halling colt was partnered by William Buick on the Rowley Mile, sitting in behind work companion Dick Doughtywylie before moving past around the two-furlong pole and drawing a good eight to 10 lengths clear.

"We are delighted, very happy with that. We always wanted to give him a longer piece of work and as the Limekilns is shut, we decided to bring him here and it's nice to have this gallop at the Dubai Future Champions Festival," said Gosden.

"I'm very happy with his work and, all being well, he will go to the Champion Stakes.

"He had a nice time going right-handed at Kempton (in the September Stakes) to prepare him for Ascot and William feels he is getting better all the time.

"He is a big, rangy Halling colt and, like his father, he is getting better with age.

"After his run at Ascot we will leave him alone for the winter."

Part-owned by Godolphin, Jack Hobbs has been beaten just twice in his career, in the Dante and Investec Derby, on both occasions by esteemed stablemate Golden Horn.

He was left unchanged by Coral at 6-4 for the Champion Stakes.

Gosden reports Golden Horn to have come out of his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe win in great shape and he is on course to have the final outing of his career in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland on October 31.

The trainer said: "I am thrilled with him, he is two kilos heavier than when he went out to France.

"He has got a great constitution and never misses an oat.

"It is pointing nicely in that direction (Breeders' Cup). We've got to discuss and debate it all, but there is no reason not to give it a go as he is retiring.

"He really impressed me how he handled the trip to France and the race, and we are lucky to have horses like that."

[www.britishhorseracing.com] Photograph By courtesy of britishhorseracing.com