Glorious tradition continued by duo while Johnstone takes St Leger trial

A breathing operation was credited with the reason for the chestnut’s abrupt return to form in last month’s Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the performance hardly condemned when he finished a narrow third in a subsequent outing in the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

Although taking on older horses over his favoured trip of seven furlongs, this was essentially a drop down in class for the 5-2 favourite and that conclusion had to be drawn with Hughes barely moving a muscle as he defeated Red Jazz by a length-and-a-half.

Hannon said: “The first time he ran at Newbury in the Greenham we were very disappointed, but we put the overhead camera on him and you could see his throat closing.

“That was sorted out and we worked him one day at Kempton with (top miler) Canford Cliffs and he worked so well we took our chance at Ascot and he won.

“He only got beaten a head and a nose in a Group One the other day and the Prix de la Foret might be the race for him.

“Canford Cliffs didn’t make him look ordinary – this is a good horse.”

Hannon’s son, Richard junior, offered the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury as another option while Hughes added: “When he’s good, he’s very good.

“Something upset him in France the last day, he was never at ease going to the start. I asked one of the guys if he got stung in the parade ring as he got very worked up, but I knew straight away (yesterday) he was a different horse.”

Moustache’s later success in the Casino At Bet365 EBF ‘Assertive’ Maiden Stakes made the day even better for Hannon and Hughes, the 6-1 shot appropriately beating the newcomer Llanarmon Lad by a nose.

Namibian gave Mark Johnston his 50th Glorious Goodwood winner with a performance characteristic of so many of the trainer’s best horses in the bet365 Gordon Stakes.

It is often mentioned that this week in Sussex is a working holiday for Middleham-based Johnston, but he arrives eager for success and rarely fails to deliver.

So it was somewhat surprising to note this was just the second time he had taken this St Leger trial, with Bandari ending up finishing third in the Classic at Doncaster in 2002.

Namibian (7-1) has followed a typically arduous programme mapped out by Johnston, starting off through Listed races before winning the Queen’s Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot, but his appetite for a battle had certainly not diminished as he fought off the attentions of hot favourite Fiorente by a neck.

Silvestre De Sousa found himself alongside Ryan Moore and Fiorente in the home straight after a lethargic pace set by Well Sharp and there was very little between the pair all the way to the line. The winner was quickly cut to 10-1 by St Leger sponsors Ladbrokes.

“He started at a fairly low grade and clearly he wasn’t ready early in the season, but he’s made rapid progress,” said Johnston.

“It was bery much a last-minute decision to run him as Dordogne was my first choice but when the rain came this morning, that made up my mind. I wasn’t sure about the trip at all. It was a bit experimental coming back but it has made up our minds for the future.

“It shows the Queen’s Vase isn’t just for out-and-out stayers and I was surprised no one was talking about him for the Leger after Ascot as it was in my mind after that.

“Obviously the owner has got to be involved in that decision, but a mile-and-three-quarters should be no problem at Doncaster.”

The James Bethell-trained Arlequin (20-1) gained compensation for missing his main target as he held on to the bet365.com Handicap from the fast-finishing 100-30 favourite Modun.

“We wanted to go for the John Smith’s at York but we didn’t get in, and this was the second choice,” admitted Middleham-based Bethell.

Requinto (6-1) collected the bet365 Molecomb Stakes for Irish trainer David Wachman, and first-season trainer Ed Walker’s first Goodwood runner Red Gulch (16-1 secured the Poker At bet365 Handicap.

Secret Asset (14-1) landed the closing Mobile At bet365 Handicap.