Roaring Lions wins Royal Lodge

Roaring Lion maintained his unbeaten record with a narrow victory in a thrilling finish to the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.

The John Gosden-trained colt just got the better of Aidan O'Brien's Nelson as he supplemented wins at this track and Kempton to take the Group Two spoils.

Nelson and Mildenberger jointly made the running with Midnight Wilde keeping them company until he was outclassed as they approached the bushes.

At that point Roaring Lion (11-4) burst on the scene under Oisin Murphy and he dug deep to outpoint Nelson by a neck with Mildenberger third.

Roaring Lion was given a quote of 25-1 for the Derby with Paddy Power.

Murphy said: "I was still on the bridle passing the bushes, so I couldn't have sat any longer.

"We went a good gallop and he travelled like a really nice horse. I must be the luckiest young lad in the world riding horses like this.

"I haven't ridden a Derby horse in a while, so I'm not sure if he is one or not, but he certainly has a big future."

Winning owner Sheikh Fahad said: "John has done a great job with the horse and Oisin has ridden him brilliantly there.

"He travels well, so it's exciting.

"You've got to dream. It's great to go into the winter with a horse like him."

Gosden said: "He did very well and it wouldn't be his favourite ground. He has done nothing but improve. He has won on the July Course and the Polytrack and we couldn't be more pleased with him. He came smoothly through (with) hands and heels to win it.

"It's a big track and he is a baby. He was in the middle and he had no rail and he started wandering.

"Oisin gave him a flick with his right hand and he was nearly in the grandstand. He straightened him up and he came back as he went a neck down. He has got plenty of class and is a nice horse.

"You either put him away or you look at a choice of two races. One is obviously Doncaster and the other is Del Mar.

"I love Doncaster and I would be worried if it got deep and that wouldn't be the place to go. He is an American-bred horse and he likes top of the ground. The next 10 days with the horse will tell us everything.

"He has come on a lot from Kempton. I would have been terribly disappointed if he wasn't in the shake up."

Paddy Power cut Roaring Lion to 6-1 from 10-1 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

O'Brien said of Nelson: "Ryan (Moore) rode him as he found him. He ran a very good race and was right there all the way.

"He had a bit of a messy morning and he only just arrived at the races. The poor fellow had never flown before, but he learnt a lot today.

"I don't know how much that affected him, but it wasn't an advantage.

"He is a little bit of baby and took a few runs to learn. We are very happy with the run. He kept going and he is a nice horse.

"Ryan was happy with him and that he ran a good, solid race. If he was to run again, he would have the choice of the Racing Post Trophy or the mile-and-a-quarter race in France."

Dolphin Vista plugged on admirably on the stands side to cause a 50-1 upset in the Betfred Cambridgeshire.

The Martyn Meade-trained four-year-old got home by a length and a half in the hands of 3lb claimer George Wood from 100-1 outsider Sands Chorus, who was on the opposite side of the track.

Cote D'Azur (50-1) was a neck away in third and the winner's stable companion Chelsea Lad another length back in fourth.

The 34-strong field split unto two groups with Sands Chorus leading from the outset on the far side while Sinfonietta, Qassem and Mulligatawny were to the fore near the stands rail in the early stages.

When they faded, Dolphin Vista came through with a winning run.

Wood said: "That was good and a little bit unexpected as he was a big price.

"Fair play to the team. They've done a really good job at home to get him back in good form.

"I wasn't 100 per cent sure I'd won (crossing the line), but I knew I was in with a good shout.

"I was a bit worried early on that we were on the wrong side, but he's a game horse and picked up nicely."

Meade said: "It always is a surprise. In a handicap with 34 runners anything can happen.

"The horse has been doing really well at home. We've taken a lot of time with him.

"He's had quite a lot of racing, but had only run once for us before and we thought we'd give him time and wait for his ground.

"You have to run him in a contest like this, which is quite tricky with so many runners as so many things can go wrong, but he came home the winner, which is great.

"It was a great ride from George. He stuck to his guns where he was and did everything we asked him to do."

Bye Bye Baby gave the Coolmore team and trainer Aidan O'Brien a treble when getting of the mark on her fourth start in the Blandford Bloodstock Maiden Fillies' Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Very few got into the seven-furlong heat as Bye Bye Baby was taken straight to the front and was joined by her market rival Altyn Orda.

They dominated proceedings with Bye Bye Baby (11-10 favourite) asserting in the closing stages to strike by two lengths from the 2-1 second best. Princess Harley was five lengths away in third.

O'Brien said: "I am delighted. She is progressing with every run. Ryan was delighted with her and she has come forward from her last run.

"She will go up in trip as she will stay further and she will be very happy to go further. I'd say we might go again and we might look at a Listed race for her. She is now really galloping. She is going to be a nice middle-distance filly."

Awesometank (7-1) held the late lung of Clubbable to take the British EBF "Jersey Lily" Fillies' Nursery Handicap.

Andrea Atzeni was at his strongest on the William Haggas-trained juvenile to repel the bid of 100-30 favourite Clubbable by a short head. Dark Liberty was just a neck back in third.

Haggas said: "It was nice to win quite a valuable prize. We're absolutely delighted. I said to the owner I'd like to put her way if she won."

Makzeem swooped late on the stands' side rail to give jockey Ryan Moore a treble on the card in the Iliffe Media And Velvet Magazine Handicap.

The Roger Charlton-trained four-year-old had plenty to do but he hit full stride in the final furlong, with the help of the rail, to lead 50 yards from home.

The 5-1 favourite won cosily by three and a quarter lengths from Ice Lord to complete Moore's trio after his earlier triumphs on Clemmie and Bye Bye Baby.