Desert Ruler delivers at York for Jedd O'Keeffe

The rest of the news from Family Race Day at the Knavesmire, where George Dryden ran out a tidy winner of the sprint handicap.

Ann Duffield was left relieved that George Dryden (12/1) had failed to meet his reserve at the sales last week after he ran out a convincing winner of the Hanson Springs Stakes under PJ McDonald.

"We took him to the sales but he had a £90,000 reserve on him which wasn't met, thankfully," said Duffield.

"Hong Kong wanted him and they'll probably be back in for him again, but he'll cost more now.

"It's taken him all year to get going. He's not in the Ayr Gold Cup unfortunately."

Sir Mark Prescott has the Betfred Cesarewitch as the aim for Amour De Nuit but he might have to settle for a place in the consolation race, even after his win in the Castles UK Educational And Residential Furniture Stakes.

After Luke Morris guided the three-year-old to a hard-fought victory the jockey said: "He's a nice, progressive stayer but because of the weight-for-age scale, I don't think he'll get in the Cesarewitch."

Morris was given a two-day ban (September 20 and 21) for allowing his mount to drift right-handed.

Jedd O'Keeffe has a smart performer on his hands in the shape of Desert Ruler who took his record to two from three in the Judith Marshall Memorial Stakes at York.

The Kheleyf colt wore down John Quinn's Reputation inside the final furlong to win by half a length at 11/1.

Having won a maiden at Ayr last time out, Desert Ruler now has a valuable pot at Newmarket on his agenda.

"I trained his half-brother Kian's Delight and due to a mix up at the sales, I let him go for £1,000 to Peter Beaumont who won plenty of races over hurdles with him," said O'Keeffe.

"When this lad came up I thought I'd best have another go at the family and I won't be letting him go cheap.

"He's in a sales race at Newmarket which is worth £150,000 for horses sold from book three [at Tattersalls].

"It means going back over six furlongs but I think we'll get away with it."

Quinn's dual-purpose performer El Beau shot clear inside the final furlong to win the Barkers Garage Stakes.

He looked firmly in the grip of the handicapper on his previous few outings but with the help of Joe Doyle's 3lb claim, he returned to winning ways at 16/1.

Lady Cecil's Distain made up plenty of ground from the rear, but the 9/2 favourite was three-quarters of a length adrift at the line.

Doyle, 19, said: "He travelled great but for a long way I didn't think the gap was going to come. When it did, he flew."

Quinn added: "He's a grand horse, he always puts in 100%.

"I thought the handicapper had him but it dropped right today. He could go back hurdling but if he's winning races like this on the Flat, I don't see the point.

"No-one loves the jumps more than me, but the risk of injury is so much bigger."

Gracious John (10/1) had been running over nearly a mile but dropped to an extended five furlongs, he fairly bolted up in the WDY UK Ltd Irish Champions Weekend EBF Maiden Stakes.

Trainer David Evans always thought the Baltic King colt had a fair engine but he had been tried over seven furlongs previously.

With two furlongs less to negotiate, he was always handy for John Egan and kicked clear to beat Poet's Prize by two and a half lengths.

"David has always liked him, he wanted to come today but got stuck in traffic," said Egan. "He's got plenty of boot but it's possible he's been running over the wrong trip.

"David just told me to keep him handy today and he thought he'd nearly win."