Pat Eddery performed a great escape at Sandown yesterday to put Backcloth on centre stage. The former champion, back in action for less than a fortnight after a hip injury had sidelined him for six weeks, found himself behind a wall of horses in the straight on the 100 to 30 favourite for the Tote Scoop6 Handicap.

Eddery's path was twice blocked around the quarter mile mark and his mount saw no daylight until entering the final furlong. But once he found room Backcloth quickened in style to hit the front five strides from the finish and Eddery was able to ease down in the shadow of the post and score by half a length from Lady Angharad.

Perseverance paid off when Premier Baron lost his maiden tag at the 13th attempt in the Spirit of Brooklands Handicap. Premier Baron, trainer Pat Mitchell's first winner of the year, led approaching the furlong marker under Gary Carter to beat Sharp Rebuff by one and a quarter lengths.

William Haggas sent out his first two-year-old winner of the season when Punctuate made a successful debut in the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales 2-y-o Novice Stakes.

Punctuate, partnered to a length victory over Kind Emperor by John Egan, could follow a path trodden recently by former stablemate Shudder by taking in the Prix d'Arenberg at Chantilly on September 8th followed by Redcar's Two-Year-Old Trophy in October.