Lord Shanakill shows class in Betfair Cup

LORD Shanakill made his Group 1 form count in the Betfair Cup on day one of Glorious Goodwood.

Last year's Prix Jean Prat winner has spent most of his career with the currently disqualified Karl Burke but after a brief stint in America he joined Henry Cecil, who has rather rebuilt the son of Speightstown from scratch this season.

Cecil had tried Lord Shanakill at distances between six furlongs and a mile, but an easy recent victory in a seven-furlong Listed race at Chester provided proof of his optimum distance and his determined finish under Tom Queally to lift the Group Two prize (better known as the Lennox Stakes) by a head means a step back up to championship level is now in the offing.

"The Chester race gave him a lot of confidence and I loved the way he picked up at the end," said Queally of the 13-2 shot. "He's a classy horse and people forget he's a Group 1 winner, his class showed today when it mattered."

Memories of last year's Betfair Molecomb Stakes came flooding back as Richard Hughes stole the plaudits on Zebedee. Hughes had given another Richard Hannon juvenile, Monsieur Chevalier, a fearless ride in 2009 and waited until the last moment aboard the mottled grey and brown 2-1 favourite before pressing the button.

Favourite-backers had a rough time of it again in the Tatler Summer Season Handicap but Kieren Fallon ultimately got the job done aboard 7-2 jolly Start Right.

Cumani's assistant Ed Walker said: "That was a bit heart stopping and it was a really brave ride from Kieren. He wasn't in the best position but the gaps came when he wanted them to." A recent gelding operation has also worked wonders on Ralph Beckett's Pabusar (10-1), who had started to pick up bad habits but was always in control in the EBF Dallaglio Foundation Maiden Stakes.

Hughes was yet again coolness personified in the ROA Summer Handicap as Hannon's Martyr (7-1) laughed at his rivals for an easy victory in the Harbinger colours of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.