Racing:Kieren Fallon showed he was back to his best with a brilliant display to land a 21-1 double on the opening day of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster. The six-times champion only returned to the saddle on Friday following his well-publicised absence but it is already as though he has never been away.
He made both his wins look easy despite coming from unpromising positions to win on both Audacity Of Hope (3-1 favourite) and Strike The Deal (9-2).
The latter took the feature DFS Scarbrough Stakes despite the Jeremy Noseda-trained sprinter being slowly away.
Fallon bided his time in last place and he was rewarded when the gaps appeared at the right time.
Strike The Deal burst through in the closing stages to beat Spin Cycle by a length.
Fallon said: "He banged on the gates when we jumped out, but I've always liked this horse and he's obviously just come good.
"They thought bringing him back in trip might suit him.
"It wasn't the plan to be so far back but he was leaning on the gates. Thankfully the gaps came good for him."
His owner, scrap metal merchant Martin Barber, lives just five miles away from Doncaster and said: "In fairness to Philip (Robinson) who's ridden him a couple of times, he said to drop him back to five.
"Jeremy wanted a jockey who basically was going to smack his backside so he said 'let's put Kieren on him'.
"The sea opened for him. The horse was leaning on the gates when they opened. A furlong out the gaps came for him.
"He could go for a Group Three over five at Newbury next."
Fallon looked trapped at halfway on Audacity Of Hope in the Wilkinson Frenchgate Nursery, but he switched the Charlie McBride-trained youngster to the outside and went on to win cosily by a length and a quarter from Pleasant Day.
"I was in a lot of trouble early on and I couldn't get out," said Fallon.
"There was no room on the inside so I had to get out on the outside. It took me a long time to do that but he picked up instantly and this was a good nursery."
Twice Over may try to go one better in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes after recording his first victory for 14 months.
He was runner-up to New Approach in the Newmarket feature last October and appreciated the drop in grade when outclassing the opposition in the Debenhams Frenchgate Conditions Stakes.
The 4-6 shot was always going well for Tom Queally, going on a furlong out to win by a length and three-quarters from Serva Jugum.
Trainer Henry Cecil's assistant Mike Marshall said: "It was a big drop in class for him and a good confidence booster. It was like a piece of work.
"He could possibly go for the Champion Stakes again. He had time off after his last run (in the Coral-Eclipse) and we freshened him up.
"This fella's had some hard races, he's had a tough time and we couldn't be more pleased."
Angel's Pursuit (11-2) bounced back after finishing last in the Group Three Sirenia Stakes at Kempton on Saturday with a gutsy triumph in the Sainsbury's Frenchgate Conditions Stakes.
The Richard Hannon-trained colt was all out to hold Roodle by three-quarters of a length.
"He's been very unlucky and deserved that. He's a decent two-year-old and we'll try to find a Listed race for him," said the trainer's son and assistant, Richard Hannon junior.
"He was last on Saturday but there wasn't a lot between all of them and it was his first time on that surface."
Akhenaten (13-2) got the verdict by three-quarters of a length from Vitoria in a blanket finish to the New Look Frenchgate Handicap.
"He's been unlucky. What he needs is seven furlongs with a good, even pace on a galloping track on lovely ground. Conditions were ideal today," said jockey Tony Culhane.
Frederik Tylicki drew level with David Probert in the race to be champion apprentice by taking both two divisions of the Evans Frenchgate Handicap.
The 3lb claimer was at his strongest when bringing home the 5-2 favourite Total Impact by a neck from Rasaman in division one.
"He's down to a winning mark and if the handicapper isn't too tough on him, he might just go in again," said winning trainer and Tylicki's boss Richard Fahey.
"Frederik says he's going to nail Mr Probert on the line. That was our 133rd winner of the year all together. We genuinely can't believe it, but we'll take it."
Tylicki led a furlong out on the Jeremy Glover-trained Incomparable (6-1) to beat Feelin Foxy by two and a quarter lengths in division two.
Tylicki, who has had 51 winners in all this year, said: "I've had a good day but I'll just take it step by step. It's just about being focused at this time."