Young guns pounce for Balding

William Buick and David Probert helped Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding bag a 203-1 double on day two of the Newmarket July Festival.

Buick was given the leg-up for Donegal, who put himself in the shop window after the Bahrain Trophy.

The Listed contest is considered an early trial for the Ladbrokes St Leger but the Doncaster Classic is not likely to be on the agenda for the 16-1 winner.

It developed into a four-way blanket finish, with Buick driving Donegal home a neck and the same ahead of Gravitation and even-money favourite Bouguereau.

“In fairness although his record overall looks disappointing he’s only had soft ground twice and both times he has won,” said Balding.

“He’s a gelding and I expect I will get offers for him to go jumping so I don’t know where he will go.”

Probert and Jedediah (11-1) then charged away with the Ladbrokes.com Heritage Handicap.

Balding added: “David didn’t get to the front too soon. He has a very handy 7lb claim and such a cool head. He’s a very similar make and shape to William - a very light young lad but a very good horseman.”

Trainer Tom Dascombe and jockey Richard Kingscote celebrated a first Group victory in the TNT July Stakes.

Kingscote adopted the same aggressive front-running tactics as when winning a conditions event at Salisbury 11 days previously.

And although Sayif joined him inside the final furlong, the Daggers Drawn colt did not shirk the challenge to get the verdict by a short head.

“I was in America over the weekend saddling Zaskar in the American Oaks but I managed to get myself to a computer to look at the confirmation stage,” said Lambourn-based Dascombe.

“I saw there were only nine in it, so we thought we’d have a go.

“The plan from now has already been decided as he was bought in the sales in Ireland and we are going for a 300,000 Euro race at the Curragh on August 23.

“I’m thrilled for Richard too. I’ve stuck with him, the owners have too, and he has stuck with me.”

Paul Howling’s Generous Thought (4-1) was given the reward he deserved from some top efforts this season as Robert Winston extricated the colt from trouble in the Six Whiting Street Conditions Stakes.

Ouqba (7-4 favourite) maintained Barry Hills’ fine recent record in the EBF Novice Stakes and will head for the valuable Doncaster Sales event at York.

The concluding five-furlong Highland Meridian Gardens Handicap went to the Richard Price-trained Kay Two at 9-1.