SERGEANT Cecil has not taken to retirement.

The champion stayer – owned by Terry Cooper of Blandford – quickly became bored with life following the end of his illustrious racing career last summer.

After being retired following the Goodwood Cup in July the chestnut went to the National Stud at Newmarket not for any breeding potential (he is a gelding) but to be paraded either at the stud or at prestigious race meetings.

However, the occasional personal appearance and just mooching about in a field were clearly not for him.

Cooper said: “He started being a bit silly and was full of himself – he was obviously bored and we needed to get the exuberance out of him.

To give his 10-year-old a new interest and to expend some of that energy Cooper has sent him to William Knight after a chance meeting with the Sussex trainer at Langton Stud, Blandford.

Sergeant Cecil loves hacking through the woods, being on The Downs, leading the Littlehampton stable’s two-year-olds and cantering on the artificial track but talk of a return to racing is somewhat premature.

Cooper said: “If he was really enjoying himself and William thought a little race might do him good, we might think about it but that is not a serious thought at present. All I want is for Cecil to be happy in whatever he does and at the moment he is happier than I have seen him for a long time.”

Sergeant Cecil was voted Racehorse of the Year in 2005 after his unique hat-trick of winning the Northumberland Plate, the Ebor Handicap and the Cesarewitch in the same season.

The following year the son of sprinter King’s Signet landed the Group One Prix Du Cadran at Longchamp, Paris, and in all won 10 races.

n Beaminster trainer Charles Fox was delighted with his charge’s showing in the Christies Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham last week.

In a race widely regarded as the amateurs’ Gold Cup, Turthen, under Charlotte Tizzard, emerged as a real threat at the last along with long-time leader Baby Run, but Cappa Bleu powered up the hill to win by 12 lengths.

Fox said: “I think he just couldn’t get up the hill but I’m thrilled to bits and I think it was a good horse that beat him.

“I’m usually too nervous to take them to Aintree but he’s been over those fences before and the way he jumped at the festival I would be tempted.”