Last year's French Derby fourth Day Flight resumed winning ways with a workmanlike performance at Kempton yesterday, suggesting there might well be more to come.

With Frankie Dettori rushing Blythe Knight through to take the lead after a couple of furlongs, the 4-6 favourite was able to get a tow for much of the Johnno Spence Consulting Magnolia Stakes.

Although he had to be asked a question or two to quicken up and win in the home straight, Richard Hughes' mount did so in the final 150 yards to score by three lengths.

Blythe Knight held a back-to-form Red Lancer for second place by a length.

As Hughes returned to the winner's enclosure, trainer John Gosden suggested to the rider that Day Flight had used ''all the tricks'' in the home straight, and the four-year-old still looks far from the finished article.

But with the ground possibly a shade quicker in the spring sunshine than would have been ideal, Gosden seemed satisfied with the efforts of the colt, who now heads for the Betfred Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown on April 23.

The trainer said: ''He got jarred up in the French Derby. The ground was quick, the grass was short and they did two minutes 25, which is a remarkable time considering the uphill finish there.

''Then we tried to bring him back in the autumn, which didn't work out, but he has done that fine.

''As long as it is good, good to soft, we'll be OK. He might turn out to be an out-and-out mile-and-a-half horse, but sticking to ten furlongs for the time being gives us more options to play with.

''The cold three-week spell we had knocked a lot of the fillies back, but the older colts can take those sort of conditions much better.''

Connections of Blythe Knight were satisfied with his effort and indicated that he could take his chance in Saturday's Stanleybet Lincoln. Totesport left his price unchanged at 16-1.

'Talking horse' Iffraaj delivered the goods in the JSC PR Straight From Horse's Mouth Handicap under Philip Robinson.

Well backed in the betting offices in the morning, the lightly-raced four-year-old has had his problems with injury and had been restricted to just three outings before yesterday.

Despite allowing the talented High Reach to get first run at the furlong pole, Robinson refused to panic aboard the 3-1 winner, who led 75 yards from the finish to score by a length.

''Sheikh Ahmed doesn't have many four-year-olds, but this was a nice horse who had never had a chance to fulfil his potential once he picked up a leg problem early last season,'' said trainer Michael Jarvis.

''We will take the handicap route with him and hopefully pick up a nice one before his mark gets too high.''

Robinson left after the race and did not ride in the concluding JSC Angels Handicap. Trainer Heather Dalton, for whom he was due to ride Ronsard, was fined £80 when the stewards were not satisfied with her explanation for his absence.

The race went to 10-1 chance Glen Ida, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Richard Mullen.

Obe Gold turned in a fine weight-carrying effort to take the JSC Sports Media Relations And Sponsorship Conditions Stakes under Sam Hitchcott.

Having decided that the conditions of the event did not suit his charge, Mick Channon took a chance when putting Obe Gold into the six-furlong race when it was reopened due to lack of interest earlier in the week.

The decision paid off when the 4-1 chance outbattled If Paradise to land the spoils by a length, the pair nicely clear of their rivals.

''He did have a lot on at the weights, being a three-year-old only receiving a couple of pounds from his older rivals,'' said Channon.

''But I thought it was worth giving it a try as it would give us an idea where we are.''

The durability of Obe Gold, a Listed-race winner last year, means that he now has plenty of options for his next race.

''He's in the Free Handicap and I didn't think he was badly-treated,'' said Channon.

''I think he will stay seven furlongs no problem, but it is a stiff seven. The other race I have had in mind for him for a long time is the Field Marshall Stakes at Haydock (back over five furlongs).

''He's that kind of easy horse - he's certainly got enough speed to drop back to five furlongs if we decide that's the way we want to go.''

John Dunlop's stable got off the mark for the season in style as Coup D'Etat routed his rivals in the opener.

The 100-30 winner, who was always near the head of affairs under Richard Quinn, took up the running from Councellor at the halfway stage of the seven-furlong Johnno Spence Consulting Maiden Stakes.

Soon putting daylight between himself and his rivals, he started to idle near the finish but already had the race in the bag and came home five lengths clear of 20-1 chance Moonmaiden, who held off favourite Plectrum for the runner-up spot.

''He's a stronger horse this season and he seems a happier horse too,'' said Quinn.