Ascot lover Clive Cox is ready to turn on the style again

Cox also warned punters not to forget about the chances of his 33-1 outsider Pearly Wey. He said: "He's won the second Stewards' Cup race at Goodwood two years' running and this year I'd like to see him get in the race proper. Although he's making his seasonal debut in the Wokingham, that doesn't concern me. He's a summer-ground horse and I'm expecting a good performance."

As a jockey, the Somerset-born Cox, who trains a 60-plus string out of John Francome's Beechdown Stables yard, rode no more than 100 winners. But he was on board the favourite in the 1988 Grand National, Sacred Path. "We fell at the first. After all that build-up and anticipation, it was like a bad dream," he said.

"I still have the picture in my front room, just as a reminder of what racing can be like."

Consequently, Cox is never one to hype up his horses.

It is perhaps worth noting that Dunn'o is heading to the Royal Hunt Cup next Wednesday "off what looks an attractive mark".

Dunn'o, who is as big as 20-1 for the one-mile handicap, has the rare quality of going on any ground and Cox added: "He won at Sandown last time and that was a very nice performance. Hopefully he will progress."

Joining him will be 25-1 shot Soccerjackpot, who has won his last two races on the all-weather.

"We have given him a break since March. He has had a few problems, so I'm pleased we had two successful days with him but he's a very genuine horse," added Cox.