Racing briefs

Mathers produced Mutayam with a perfectly-timed run to lead 50 yards from home and go a length clear of Song Koi with Fox Covert a neck away in third place.

Nolan, based at Wishaw in Lanarkshire, had not saddled a winner since Howard's Dream scored at 25-1 at Hamilton on July 11 last year, but he said: "He has had niggling problems and we have had trouble getting him right.

"But his speed is unreal, Mornin Reserves had speed but not as much as this one has, and if there were four furlong races nothing would beat him I can tell you."

He went on: "Mutayam cost 120,000gns as a yearling, but I bought him for 1,500gns and I turned down a good profit straight after because I wanted to keep him - and I had a bit on him today because I thought he was right."

The stewards considered Mutayam's improved form compared to Musselburgh last time when 14th of 15, but did not hold an inquiry after Nolan told them the gelding was better suited by being held up compared to Paul Hanagan banged a knee on the side of the stalls and was unshipped from Harrison's Flyer 'who threw his head to the floor as the stalls opened after the blindfold was removed'.

He was stood down for the rest of the day and missed a winner on Market Avenue in the Bet365 Call 08000 322 365 Handicap, Robert Winston deputising on the mare for Richard Fahey who is having a great run and was taking his score for the season to 53.

Kevin Ryan, a former assistant to Fahey before he took out a trainer's licence himself, moved to only three short of his personal best score of 54 when Roman Empire prevailed in a thrilling finish to the St James Security Handicap.

Roman Empire was partnered by Neil Callan who has struck gold in teaming up with the Ryan team and, enjoying his best season, now needs 15 to reach his first century.

Saeed bin Suroor has a powerful team of juveniles and Potent Heir became their 30th individual two-year-old to score when landing the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes in the hands of Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

McEvoy rode Warrsan to victory in the £362,000 to the winner Group 1 Grosser Volkswagen Preis Von Baden on his first ride in Germany on Sunday, said: "Potent Heir is a nice horse, he showed good speed early but then they went away for him a little.

"But he finished really well and he took a lot of pulling up which is always a good sign"!

However McEvoy was cautioned for careless riding, Potent Heir having been found to have interfered with fourth placed Come On Jonny a furlong and a half out.

Sir Mark Prescott's Trilemma defied a penalty for a Ripon win last week in the Stephen Eastern Handicap and initiated a double for Seb Sanders completed by David Loder's Backgammon in the Saltwell Signs Maiden Stakes.

JOHNSTON:Lucky Story is set to step up in trip after a disappointing run in the Netjets Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sunday.

The Mark Johnston-trained colt was well fancied but could finish only seventh behind Grey Lilas in the mile showpiece after making much of the early running.

"He hasn't come back home yet but the reports from over there are that he is fine and in good form," said the trainer's wife Deirdre.

"Mark said to me before he even spoke to Darryll (Holland), who said the same thing, and that was that on that faster ground Lucky Story wants further - he was staying on well at the finish."

Lucky Story had previously finished runner-up to Norse Dancer in the Sovereign Stakes over the same distance on his seasonal bow.

"We thought a mile was fine, but the race at Salisbury was OK for him because it was very soft ground. We will look at the options over longer trips on faster going," Mrs Johnston added.