ON a Saturday afternoon which saw Paul Hanagan complete a four-timer and William Haggas initiate a cross-Channel sprint double, Henry Candy’s Limato lost his unbeaten record at Haydock.

The Tagula three-year-old, sent off at even money in the Group 2 888sport Sandy Lane Stakes, was beaten a length by Haggas’ 6/1 chance Adaay with New Providence only a head behind in third.

Haydock holds plenty of water and the easy surface may well have helped Adaay reverse Ascot form with the favourite. Hanagan hit the front before the furlong pole and Adaay kept on well, earning his place in the new Group I sprint, the Commonwealth Cup, at Royal Ascot.

Limato had won five in a row and Candy was not too disappointed with the way things turned out.

“He isn’t as good on that ground, it’s as simple as that,’’ he said. “I was in two minds whether to run him. Royal Ascot is the plan and I hope it warms up a bit before then.’’

The bookmakers took a similar view of the result, with Ladbrokes offering a seemingly generous 8/1 about Adaay as Limato, though easing slightly, remained favourite in all lists at 3/1 or 7/2. Nonetheless, the Haggas camp, which followed up with Muthmir, also owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, in the big sprint at Longchamp on Sunday, was understandably delighted with the performance.

“We’ve always liked him but he trained off a bit last year,’’ Maureen Haggas said. “He was really cool today and is learning all the time. The Commonwealth Cup looks like being a great race because apart from Limato there will be Tiggy Wiggy and several other good ones lining up,’’

MISS MARJURIE FOR COAKLEY

Hanagan was in unstoppable form, a quick-fire double at the start of proceedings featuring the Group 3 success of Denis Coakley’s Miss Marjurie, 7/1, an underrated filly who followed up her Goodwood success by just holding Haggas’ Wonderstruck in the 888sport Pinnacle Stakes over a mile and a half.

Another Haggas runner, the disappointing joint-favourite Queen Of Ice, took them along but was spent approaching the final furlong, where Wonderstruck went on, seemingly about to make light of a 300-day absence.

Miss Marjurie challenged and got up by a short-head in a driving finish. Lady Tiana, forced to switch at a vital stage, looked rather unfortunate and is worth noting for the future.

Coakley, an Irishman of few words but plenty of ability, does well with his small string and this was a shrewd bit of placing, Miss Marjurie finding just enough to graduate from Listed to Group 3 class.

COMING BACK

“Now that she’s won this we’ll think about coming back for the Lancashire Oaks,’’ he said. The last three winners of this finished second in that prestigious event, John Gosden’s Sultanina going on to Group 1 glory in a slightly sub-standard Nassau at Goodwood.

Hanagan is retained by Sheikh Hamdan but still rides for Richard Fahey whenever possible. His other two winners came via that link, 5/1 chance Jumeirah Glory beating Serene Beauty by inches in the opening 10-furlong handicap and 15/8 favourite Don’t Touch denying Red Tycoon over six furlongs in another very tight finish later on.

Fahey also scored with Loving Spirit at Chester, while Hanagan’s four-timer came to 965/1.