Fine performance from Art

Western Art provided Peter Chapple-Hyam with some timely good fortune ahead of Authorized’s assault on the Coral-Eclipse Stakes with a Listed win in the aAIM Dragon Stakes at Sandown.

New Jersey, the 7-2 favourite, appeared to make a race-winning move when kicking on over a furlong out but Jimmy Fortune gathered momentum on the 11-2 shot and pounced near the line for a length success.

Chapple-Hyam was absent, with connections represented by joint-owner Matthew Green’s racing manager Jimmy Lindley, who said: “He will be a very good horse over further and the race we have always had in mind for him is the Solario, although there is also the Champagne Stakes and plenty of other options.”

The Solario is also a possibility for Chesham Stakes seventh Scintillo, who completed an across-the-card double for Richard Hannon when cruising home in the Cushman & Wakefield EBF Maiden Stakes.

Richard Hughes’ mount was in the vanguard throughout the seven-furlong contest and the 6-4 favourite strode out purposefully when sent about his business.

Hannon said: “He showed his true colours at Ascot when he wasn’t beaten far and was finishing fast. He is a very decent little horse. He is tough and hardy and will be better over further.

“The Washington Singer, Solario and those type of races will be next for him.”

Soft ground will dictate the future for the lightly-raced Harland after the Michael Jarvis-trained colt dug deep to see off Godolphin’s Tam Lin in the William Ewart Properties Gala Stakes.

Frankie Dettori elected to take a wide passage aboard Tam Lin but Harland (100-30) ranged upsides down the straight and after a great tussle, Neil Callan’s mount got up in the dying strides to score by a head.

Jarvis said: “He is still quite inexperienced; that was only his fourth race, but he is an improver and he will get a mile and a half.

“I would think next year will be his year, but he does want cut in the ground and I might look at taking him to Deauville.”

Tam Lin’s connections enjoyed better fortune in the 10-furlong Helical Bar Handicap as 9-4 joint-favourite Mariotto showed a terrific will to win in getting the better of Ballinteni by a head.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “He ran a big race and handled the ground well. He will need further in time and we will look to go Listed class with him now.”

Cashel Mead (10-1) returned to winning form with a gritty success in the British Land Handicap over the minimum trip.

John Spearing’s mare enjoyed a profitable 2006 when rattling off eight victories and after a slow start to this campaign she came good under Franny Norton and held Golden Dixie by a neck to collect.

Norton said: “She has been unlucky a couple of times this season and didn’t get into it at Chester last weekend.

“She doesn’t pick up but she just plugs on so this stiff track suits her, and hopefully John will freshen her up and bounce her back into it.”

Hugh Bowman rode the third-placed Phantom Whisper and he will be out of action on July 17 having been found guilty of careless riding.

Mudawin landed the Consensus Handicap 12 months ago prior to his Ebor exploits, and this time it was the Mark Tompkins-trained Toparudi who handled conditions best of all to post a 12-1 victory.

John Egan, ride of third home Sphinx, was handed a seven-day ban (July 17-23) for careless riding.