Summer delight for back-to-form Turpin

Dick Turpin returned to winning ways in the totesport.com Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot.

The Group Two event was severely weakened by the withdrawal of Queen Anne third Cityscape, but the Richard Hannon-trained Dick Turpin was still surprisingly sent off at 2-1 behind 6-4 favourite Side Glance.

Pat Dobbs’ mount was always moving easily off the slow pace set by Fareer, and the race looked all over as a contest when he cruised to the front.

He had to dig a little deeper than expected with Fanunalter throwing down a strong challenge, before prevailing in the end by a cosy three-quarters of a length.

Hannon told At The Races: “I can’t believe the price he was, but there you are.

“His last two runs haven’t been great, but we gave him two quick ones and I don’t think it suited him. It was firm ground in France (Prix D’Ispahan) and he came back a little jarred up, so we gave him time some time off.

“We’ll have a look at Goodwood and follow the ground really, we were going to take him out today but every jockey that came in said it was lovely ground so we had a go.

“He’s a good horse, he travels so well and has got a good racing brain.”