No delay as Postponed triumphs

While the late defection of Derby and Eclipse winner Golden Horn, due to the ground conditions, may have robbed the Group One mid-summer highlight of much of its gloss, it still served up a thrilling conclusion to evoke memories of the epic finish fought out in the race by Grundy and Bustino 40 years ago.

Unlike when the pair battled it out in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting last month, the chance of a hard-luck story this time was slim, with Romsdal setting a good gallop from the start.

To ensure there would be no repeat of their latest battle, Andrea Atzeni, replacing Adam Kirby aboard Postponed, positioned his mount just in behind the early leader.

Frankie Dettori, who had switched to Eagle Top in light of Golden Horn’s absence, was content to anchor his mount at the rear of the field.

There was little change in position until Postponed ranged up on Romsdal at the three-furlong pole to set his stall for home.

Racing on down to the furlong pole, it looked as though Gosden was in line to win the race for a second successive year as Eagle Top bridged the gap between the pair, before briefly going on.

It was not to be, though, as Postponed demonstrated the best of his battling qualities to get his head back in front at the right time and prevail by a nose.

Atzeni was hit with a six-day suspension (August 8-13) and Dettori was banned for four days (August 8-11) for whip infringements.

Tullius set up an ambitious tilt at the Champion Stakes with a hard-fought victory in the Sky Bet York Stakes on Knavesmire.

Andrew Balding’s seven-year-old is approaching the veteran stage of his career yet he still had to prove he was as effective on quick ground as he is on soft.

There was also a slight question mark over the 10-furlong trip, but he answered both in the affirmative under a power-packed ride from the bang-in-form Phil Makin.

Makin continued his purple patch when teaming up with John Quinn to win the six-furlong Sky Bet-sponsored maiden on Reputation (9-4).

James Doyle was also in double form, highlighted by the win of Tanzeel in the Sky Bet Dash.

For a few strides old Tangerine Trees looked like causing a huge shock, but Tanzeel (11-2 favourite) changed gear to beat Shore Step by two lengths.

Tangerine Trees was eventually passed by fellow outsider Al Khan for third place.

Doyle had earlier got favourite-backers off to a flier when Chain Of Daisies just clung on to land the Sky Bet Best Odds Guaranteed EBF Fillies’ Handicap.

Henry Candy’s three-year-old was bidding for a hat-trick after winning at Goodwood and Sandown but the 11-10 favourite was all out to win by a neck from All About Time.

Neil Callan has only had a handful of rides back on his brief return from Hong Kong, but was seen to great effect on Salateen (10-1), another all-the-way winner in the Win £5,000 With Sportinglife.com Pick 6 Handicap.

Victorious trainer Kevin Ryan then teamed up with Tom Eaves to win the closing Sky Bet-sponsored five-furlong nursery as Bint Aldar (13-2) nabbed Astley Hall in the final strides.

Big Thunder (4-1) won the Sky Bet Supporting Yorkshire Air Ambulance Handicap on his first run for David O’Meara, who said: “ He could be a Cesarewitch type.”