Lyphar connections wait for offers

Owners Middleham Park Racing XVIII were pleased they rejected an attractive bid for the Dandy Nicholls-trained gelding before he landed the valuable heritage handicap.

"We had an offer for 175,000 before the race. We declined that to give the owners a day out here," said syndicate manager Tim Palin. "They may be back on the phone with an increased offer and we would take that to the owners and see what they say."

Victoire De Lyphar (9-1), who defeated Iver Bridge Lad by a length and a quarter, was North Yorkshire trainer Dandy Nicholls' third win in the race.

And the gelding only joined the Nicholls team from Ben Haslam's stable earlier in the year.

"We bought him for 22,000 guineas as a yearling and Ben Haslam trained him well as a two-year-old and won a race with him," Palin explained. "He suggested that as he was an out- and-out sprinter, maybe Dandy's was a good place to go.

"He's been there since the beginning of the year. It was a pleasant surprise when he won first time out and the form of that race has worked out really well.

"The form was there but he slipped under the radar a little bit. After he won in April we decided to wait for this and not go to Newmarket or Epsom as we are northern owners."

The feature race carries the name of the founder of this charity meeting which is celebrating its 40th year and has raised more than 5m.

Channel 4 racing's Jim McGrath, who now organises the event, had his colours carried to victory by Sir Reginald in the Leonard Sainer EBF Maiden Stakes. However, the 4-9 favourite, trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Paul Hanagan, made hard work of landing the odds by half a length from Rojo Boy.

"To come and win on a day like today was a great moment for me and for the lot of people who support the charity," said McGrath. "What in theory should have been straight forward just shows that anything can happen in racing."

Jamie Spencer took the riding honours with a double on Distant Memories (11-4 favourite) and Zakiy (9-2).

Distant Memories wore down Oratory by half a length in a terrific finish to the ladbrokes.com Stakes (Handicap).

"He loves racing and he'll have to go for a Listed race now. I think that was his best run and if you get him on his ground he could step up in class," said trainer Tom Tate.

Spencer completed his brace on Zakiy in the Michael Sobell Maiden Stakes for trainer William Haggas.

The colt got off the mark at the third attempt beating Soviet Secret by half-a-length.

Kieren Fallon, who rode the runner-up, gained compensation on Averoo (9-1) in the Charles Henry Memorial Stakes for trainer Michael Squance.

Rebel Soldier (3-1 favourite) could have the John Smith's Cup back at York as a target after an easy win in the Daniel Prenn Royal Yorkshire Stakes by eight lengths under Frankie Dettori.

"I had it nice and easy up front which helped. He's picked up and lengthened well and he's a nice horse," said Dettori.

The Pat Eddery-trained Desert Recluse (11-1), the only three-year-old in the field, showed his elders a clean pair of heels in the Queen Mother's Cup Lady Amateur Riders Handicap under Rachel King.

Freddie Head believes Goldikova to be in the best shape he has ever had her ahead of what promises to be a cracking renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot tomorrow.

The dual Breeders' Cup Mile heroine may be favourite at 13-8 with Stan James to land her ninth Group One, but she faces extremely tough competition headed by last year's winner Paco Boy and Rip Van Winkle.

"I think she is very well and I have her in very good condition. Everything has been going to plan since her last run and I expect her to run a great race on Tuesday," said Head. "It is hard to say if she is better than ever as she has been so good, but I would think she is in the best shape I have ever had her.

"She won the Prix d'Ispahan over nine furlongs last time, but a mile is her distance. She is a real miler."