Chesham Stakes (Listed): Churchill scores under Ryan Moore at Royal Ascot

Ryan Moore's Royal Ascot fortunes took a turn for the better on well-backed favourite Churchill in the Chesham Stakes.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Galileo was supported in the morning markets like defeat was out of the question, being sent off the 8/11 market leader, and although failing to keep a straight path on the climb to the winning post, Moore's mount was well in command and held Isomer by half a length in the seven furlong Listed contest.

Third home was Cunco, the first foal of Frankel who had been installed as favourite for the prior to the wholesale gamble on the eventual winner.

The victory sees Moore, who claimed a record nine Royal Ascot victories 12 months ago but had suffered several hard-luck stories this year, move level with Frankie Dettori on four wins for the week, while it was a sixth success at this year's Royal meeting for O'Brien.

Churchill, drawn in stall eight, was never too far off the early pace set by another son of Frankel - the Mark Johnston-trained Frankuus - and he was sent on soon after passing the two-furlong marker, at which point he veered slightly to his left once in the clear.

John Gosden's Cunco took a while to warm to the task but stayed on resolutely, although he couldn't confirm his debut superiority over the Andrew Balding-trained Isomer, who came from near the back of the 13-runner field under Jamie Spencer to give favourite-backers a tense moment or two near the finish.

Moore said of Churshill: "He's a big, powerful, beautiful horse. He travelled nice and smooth and when he got there (the front) he was very green, but he's a high-quality two-year-old.

O'Brien said: "He's a bit of a baby, but he can only improve and he's one to look forward to.

"You can see the size of him. When he ran at the Curragh first time out, he didn't really know what happened. Even today, they went slow and Ryan was handy, which was the right place to be in a slow race, and he had to go on but he still didn't know what to do. He's very green.

"He's going to be a lovely horse this fellow. We had been looking forward to him running all week. We were worried that this would only be his second time on the racecourse but he's very classy.

"Churchill has a lot of class but they were going too slow for him in the early part of the race. Ryan had to keep him forward but, because of that, when Ryan let him down, he hit the front straight away. After that, he didn't know whether he was going to go left, right or centre.

"Ryan did a very good job and just kept him going forward. Obviously, we start off with a very good bunch of yearlings and they are bred to be doing things like this - they all have beautiful pedigrees. We're very lucky to have them.

"We'll look for Group or a Listed race from here and take it from there. He's a lovely horse. He's not short of pace but you'd like go seven furlongs or onwards with him as he travels so easily."

Comparing him to Tuesday's brilliant Coventry Stakes winner Caravaggio, the trainer added: "Caravaggio is very fast and a real sprinter."

Part-owner Michael Tabor also expects plenty of improvement as the colt learns his trade.

He said: "You must remember it's only his second run and he was very green. We think there should be a lot of improvement in him, so hopefully he'll be a very nice horse in the future.

"He was Aidan's number one fancy for the week and so he proved to be. We have not even discussed plans. You like to win here first and not jump ahead of yourself."

Sky Bet reacted by cutting Churchill a couple of points to 14/1 for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next year and representative Michael Shinners said: "The market spoke strongly in his favour and Churchill didn't disappoint in landing the gamble.

"We've trimmed him to 14/1 for the Qipco 2000 Guineas and to 20s for the Investec Derby as he has only won a Listed race by half a length in a bunch finish.

"However, he won despite showing signs of his inexperience and it would be very surprising if there wasn't a good deal more to come from this impeccably bred son of Galileo."

Andrew Balding was pleased with Isomer's effort. The Kingsclere trainer said: "He's improved from his first run so we're very happy.

"The winner is probably very good and he hung to the left a little bit so we may have been a bit flattered by our proximity to him. We want further and he'll be all right.

"What next? I don't know, maybe a maiden."

Cunco's trainer John Gosden said: "It looks like he wants a mile now. He's run great and we've probably done too good a job settling him. I liked the way he finished it out and he just likes to run.

"We might be better letting him use his stride. We came here to Royal Ascot and we're on the road."