Gold joy at Newbury

Bidding to win the race for the third consecutive year and the sixth time in all, Hannon had a strong team headed by Don't Tell Mum, who was sent off favourite to take the five-furlong dash.

But it was the Marlborough trainer's friend Brian Meehan, another who excels with precocious and speedy performers, who foiled him as he sent out stable apprentice McDonald to win the biggest race of his life.

Meehan, whose yard is in a hot streak, admitted that when McDonald forged clear of his 23 rivals at the halfway stage, he had been more than slightly concerned.

''I confess I thought he'd gone a bit soon, but now he has won we'll have to say it was an enterprising ride,'' he smiled.

''I thought she was going to run well at Royal Ascot last time out but the ground was much too firm for her and she just couldn't handle it.

''She didn't cost a lot, 12,000 guineas at Doncaster, and we will have to look at going back there now for the six-furlong sales race as she ought to be fairly well in there, given her price.

''She wasn't stopping today and I wouldn't have any worries over the trip.''

Smartly away and always in the front rank along with Chiselled, Siena Gold travelled well down the middle of the track.

A furlong out the 11-2 chance hit the front, but Ryan Moore looked threatening on Don't Tell Mum, only for the winner to find a little bit extra to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Bond City (33-1) ran on well to claim third, a further three-quarters of a length behind.

Pastoral Pursuits survived a pre-race scare to take the Racing UK Stakes.

Hughie Morrison's charge reared over backwards and smashed a hole in the wall of his saddling back as his trainer attempted to fit the tack shortly before the race.

And although the colt seemed none the worse for the remarkable incident, Morrison remained concerned that the effects of the fall might manifest themselves during the six-furlong Listed contest.

Fortunately, the race itself could not have gone more smoothly as the 15-8 favourite travelled well throughout under Steve Drowne before quickening into the lead and holding the challenge of Jersey Stakes third Cartography by a head.

''We nearly withdrew him but he was perfectly sound,'' said Morrison. ''In fact he was so quiet on parade that I did wonder if he had concussion.

''He is a lovely boy, the fastest horse I have ever trained. But he is a bad boy who just gets overexcited every time he comes to the races.''

Everest's performance peaked for the second time in a fortnight as he landed the £40,000 ladbrokes.com Handicap with a powerful late surge under Kieren Fallon.

The Brian Ellison-trained Yorkshire raider is owned by a syndicate headed by professional punter Henry Rix, and the money was down for the 11-2 chance, who held the even later rush of Vortex by a short head.

Connections revealed that they had been concerned over the state of the drying ground for their charge, who prefers a bit of give but is clearly in top form after his win in a similar event at Newmarket's July meeting.

''We have gone for a bit of a touch today, but I was sure we had got done in the photo,'' said Rix.

''It was quick as he would have wanted it today but Kieren gave him an excellent ride to bring him through the field.''

Muqbil again showed his liking for Newbury as he stayed on strongly to win his third race at the track.

The son of Swain stepped up on a back-to-form victory at Doncaster last month to beat a decent field in the cantorodds.com Steventon Stakes.

Godolphin's Vespone, equipped with a visor, a tongue-tie and a sheepskin noseband, set a fierce early pace under Frankie Dettori and had all his rivals bar the winner hard at work two furlongs out.

Gradually Muqbil edged towards the leader, but it took time before he eventually asserted 100 yards from the post to beat Vespone by three parts of a length.

It was one of three times during the afternoon that Godolphin and Dettori had to settle for second place.