Perfect run from See The Sun rewards Easterby’s masterplan

The lead of the 20-1 outsider was diminishing with every stride in front of 28,300 racegoers as Naadirr finished with a flourish.

It was the culmination of a carefully-executed plan by Great Habton-based Easterby, who had feared that See The Sun would not qualify for the six furlong heat after a disappointing run at Chester.

“This is what he was made for and what we’ve been aiming at,” said Easterby who was winning this race for a fourth time. “I was a bit worried because of the way he ran last time the handicapper might drop him and he might not get in this race.

“Chester didn’t work out, but it’s like that there sometimes. He’s a fast horse and likes a good pace. I was a bit worried he’d gone too early, but he held on well. To be fair, if you have a horse that has got plenty of pace this is the place to use it to the full. This was the plan, so we can rest a little with him now.”

Delighted winning jockey David Allan said: “He jumped the gates like a rocket, so I could afford to sit and let him travel in my hands. He was getting a bit lonely in front, but he dug deep and the line came soon enough.”

See The Sun is owned by Charles and Dorothy Stephens, whose Body And Soul was victorious 12 months ago and who finished fourth in Musselburgh’s big sprint on Saturday.

Poignantly, they have sponsored the final race on the day in memory of their son for nearly 20 years and were present when it was confirmed that the Macmillan Cancer Support raceday, now in its 44th year, had now raised in excess of £6m.

Their race was won by Nawton trainer David O’Meara’s Highland Acclaim, whose winning run was timed to perfection by top apprentice Oisin Murphy.

It was the culmination of another successful day on the Knavesmire for Yorkshire-trained horses ahead of Royal Ascot – six local winners on Friday were followed by five on Saturday.

John Quinn’s smart young hurdler Pearl Castle transferred his jumps form to the Flat with a cosy victory in the Queen Mother’s Cup Lady Amateur Riders Stakes under Serena Brotherton, who was winning this contest for a third time.

Paul Hanagan was at his brilliant best as he made virtually all on Spirit Of The Law for his former boss Richard Fahey in the JCB Handicap.

He dictated affairs from the outset on the five-year-old but was headed briefly in the last half-furlong by Busatto, before regaining the lead to score by a short head.

“Paul was at his very best there. There was no pace there so Paul had him handy and took them along at his pace and got the fractions spot on,” said Malton-based Fahey. “He looked like he was beat the last 100 yards, but Paul got him back up.”

There was some consolation for Busatto’s connections when the Joe Fanning-ridden Pallister confirmed the promise of a debut third at Haydock to open his account in the Reg Griffin Maiden Stakes, a race that celebrates the founder of the charity day.

“He shows amazing speed considering he’s out of a Yorkshire Oaks winner, Punctilious, but we knew the six would be better for him,” said trainer Mark Johnston’s wife Deirdre.

Meanwhile, Marco Botti had consolation for the narrow defeat of Naadirr in the feature with Guest Of Honour securing the Ian And Kate Hall Macmillan Ganton Stakes.

Appreciating the drying ground, Botti’s entire responded to Martin Harley’s urgings to land the Listed spoils by half a length and boost the Newmarket stable before stable star Tac de Boistron attempts to land Thursday’s Ascot Gold Cup.

In other action, Flying Power was a welcome winner at Leicester for York-based jockey Jacob Butterfield, who was one of the riders lucky to miss an idiotic racegoer who ran onto the track during the closing stages of a subsequent race. The spectator now faces a life ban.

Mister Wall Street’s gutsy success at Hexham under Tony Kelly was another victory for Brandsby National Hunt trainer Rebecca Menzies.