Cliffs peaks in Palace stroll

Richard Hannon dominated the St James’s Palace Stakes as Canford Cliffs finally got the better of his stablemate Dick Turpin.

Dick Turpin had beaten the Irish 2000 Guineas winner on the two previous occasions they had met, but the three-year-old oozed class in winning at the Royal meeting for the second successive year, following up his win in the Coventry Stakes.

The winner was handy throughout and Richard Hughes held on to the 11-4 favourite for as long as possible before quickening up impressively to win by a length, with Pat Eddery’s Hearts Of Fire running a massive race in third.

The race did not take up the pattern many thought as despite Aidan O'Brien running two much less fancied runners, his Steinbeck ended up setting the early pace under Johnny Murtagh.

Ballydoyle stablemates Beethoven and Encompassing were sat just behind, with Dick Turpin on their outside.

Kieren Fallon was one of the first to ask for an effort on American challenger Noble’s Promise, who did well to stick on for fifth, but English 2000 Guineas winner Makfi was a disappointment.

The only worry Hughes had was whether the gaps would appear and at the line he was a very authoritative winner.