Tate's York loss is Lane's gain

The Tadcaster trainer's Kings Gambit clashed with Wigmore Hall, the eventual winner, during a frantic finish to the 51st running of the showpiece York handicap, with just a short-head separating the rivals as they flashed past the line.

Kings Gambit's jockey Jamie Spencer was confident the result would be overturned in the stewards' room following interference, but the result was upheld – much to the disappointment of Tate.

"This was nearly the biggest day of my career, but that's the way it goes I suppose," said Tate, whose brother-in-law is Michael Dickinson, the legendary Yorkshire trainer.

"He's run a cracking race and Jamie was certain he'd get it in the stewards' room.

"He's obviously a Group Two or Group Three horse and he loves this track."

Tate's loss was young jockey Martin Lane's gain. It was the most memorable day yet in the career of the 24-year-old, who clearly inspired the Michael Bell-trained Wigmore Hall, an eye-catching third at Royal Ascot last month.

Lane was deliberately slow from the stalls in order to get cover for the 5-1 shot but once exposed at the furlong marker, he found his mount drifting right with the pair all out to repel Kings Gambit.

"I found out I'd got the ride on Monday and just to get the call was a great day, nearly as good as today," said a breathless Lane in the York winner's enclosure.

"It's my biggest win by a long way, and to win on my first ride for someone like Mr Bell in a race like this is just great.

"When I saw they were coming up the middle in the previous race, I thought I'd take my time and get a good position. The only problem with him is that he doesn't like small fields, but in a big field like this he's a different horse.

"If it had been a nose, the stewards' inquiry might have gone the other way as mine lost his action 75 yards from the line and gave Jamie a bump, but, luckily, we got home by a short head."

It is unlikely that Wigmore Hall will return to York for the Sky Bet meeting.

Bell, the winning trainer, said last night: "We were the unexposed horse in the race. He's had three runs in five weeks, so we will just give him a bit of a holiday."

This was one of the few meetings at York where Malton trainer Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan, this year's leading Flat jockey, were without a winner – Demolition could only finish third in the big race while odds-on favourite Dubai Media was narrowly denied in the penultimate event.

But there were two Yorkshire winners for the near-record crowd – Noel Wilson's Hotham is bound for the Ayr Gold Cup after he struck at 20-1 in the John Smith's Stakes, despite being reluctant to enter the starting stalls, and Mark Johnston's Capponi (3-1 favourite) made it three wins from four starts in the John Smith's Racing Handicap under Greg Fairley.

Robin Bastiman admits Borderlescott will face an enormous task in attempting to land the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes for the third successive year at York next month.

Royal Ascot winners Starspangledbanner and Equiano are on course for the five-furlong Group One after finishing first and second in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

Borderlescott, a veteran at eight, continued his build-up for Knavesmire by being just touched off in third place in the Listed City Wall Stakes at Chester after being denied a clear run.

"All being well, he'll go to Goodwood next (for the Audi Stakes) and he'll run in the Nunthorpe," said the Wetherby trainer. "It will be some race with Starspangledbanner and Equiano.

"They are two class horses. The Nunthorpe's going to be a hard race for the old boy to win this time."