Russian Epic, the 11-4 jointfavourite, was a further neck away from the 8-1 winner in third. Tregoning said: "He has been very immature and has needed time. He is coming together and hopefully he will improve as the year goes on. He is a horse I have always liked."

Black Charmer set himself up for a trip to Royal Ascot as Jean-Pierre Guillambert drove the 8-1 shot home by a tidy three lengths in the RBS Handicap. Mark Johnston's four-year-old pulled right away from Binanti in closing stages, booking his ticket for Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup in the process.

He picks up a 5lb penalty for the mile cavalry charge, for which totesport cut him to 25-1 from 40s. Owner Alan Spence said: "We kept him in at Ascot at the five-day stage on the basis that if he won here then he would go to Ascot. It will depend on the draw but he has got the toe and he looks back to the form of his two-year-old days."

Tregoning and Dwyer were denied the chance of doubling up as Mutanaseb (3-1) came away inside the distance to collect in the seven-furlong PaddyPower. com Handicap.

Hoh Mike (7-4) produced a killer turn of foot inside the final furlong to claim the feature cherriesracing. com Scurry Stakes over the minimum trip.

Johnny Murtagh had attempted to make all on City Of Tribes, with his fellow Irish raider Contest, the 6-4 favourite, in close attention under Mick Kinane.

The latter looked a big threat but Jamie Spencer got a real tune of Michael Bell s charge and despite giving the market leader a bump, he powered clear for a two-anda-half-length success over City Of Tribes, with Contest having to settle for third.