Murtagh clinches title with another vintage display

Johnny Murtagh clinched his first Royal Ascot riding title when he gained his fifth winner of the meeting on Nice One Clare in the Wokingham Stakes yesterday.

The Irishman, who took the week's highlight, the Ascot Gold Cup, on Thursday, proved equally adept at landing ultra-competitive six furlong sprint handicaps and he delivered a copy book performance to give low-key Newmarket trainer Pip Payne his first Royal triumph.

Murtagh appeared on the scene inside the final quarter-mile on Nice One Clare and, as the gaps opened, struck for home entering the final furlong to withstand the challenge of Ellens Academy by a neck.

Murtagh was able to put behind him the seven-days worth of bans which he collected for three separate incidents during the week. "It's been an unbelievable week for me. Five winners and I'm delighted," he said.

Murtagh won another top-grade contest, the St James's Palace Stakes on Aidan O'Brien's Black Minnaloushe to put the man who won 12 Group Ones in 2000 on three for this season. "I rode 12 last year, so I've only got nine more to go!" the rider quipped.

Olivier Peslier swooped late on Khaled Abdullah's Banks Hill to record his first winner of the year in Britain and give France a first winner at the 2001 Royal meeting in the Coronation Stakes.

Indeed, Peslier had the confidence to delay his challenge until inside the final furlong before cutting fellow 4 to 1 joint favourite Crystal Music and going on to score by a length and a half, with Tempting Fate another half-length back in third.

Ameerat became the eighth successive 1,000 Guineas winner to suffer defeat in this Group One event, trailing in fifth.

But her jockey Philip Robinson escaped punishment for accidentally striking fourth-home Lethals Lady over the head with his whip approaching the final furlong.

Henry Cecil prevented what would have been only his fourth Royal meeting without a winner in 31 years when Sandmason's grit proved good enough to take Cecil's 69th success at the fixture and was achieved with his second string, as the Warren Place hopes were firmly pinned on Wellbeing, who was sent off the 2 to 1 favourite.

However, Wellbeing was in trouble two furlongs out as Sandmason, who had cut out most of the donkey work under Willie Ryan, saw off Mutafaweq before being pressed throughout the final furlong by the persistent Zindabad, whom he held by a head.

Jamie Osborne, in his second full season with a training license, saddled his first Royal Ascot winner when Pat Eddery, who was also finally getting on the scoresheet for the week, forced Irony home from Steaming Home in the Windsor Castle Stakes.