JIMMY Fortune has known his share of misfortune, indeed tragedy, in recent times but there was a happier day last Saturday when the impressive Agent Murphy gave him his first winner since a nasty fall at Royal Ascot; it was also his first group success in just over a year.

Coming from off the pace in the Group 3 Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes, Agent Murphy swept past the frustrating Pallasator and proved five lengths too good for Windshear, with Red Cadeaux a creditable if well-beaten third. Those who backed him at 11/4 were counting their money some way from home and there may well be more to come.

“He was a bit fresh down the back but luckily they were going a good gallop and it took the sting out of him,” Fortune said. “He’s an absolute superstar and all he’s done is go on improving.”

“Yes, we’re very pleased with him and it was great to have Jimmy on board,” winning trainer Brian Meehan added. “He was always going to get further, he liked the easy ground and it’s always been the plan to go for the Irish St Leger, which looks ideal for him.”

It would be rash to sound too optimistic about Red Cadeaux regarding another tilt at the Melbourne Cup but he probably takes longer to come to hand these days and Ed Dunlop’s travelling head groom Robin Trevor-Jones was delighted with him.

“George Baker thought he would win two furlongs out but he’s short of 100% fitness and the ground just found him out,” he said. “At least we haven’t shown our hand to the Australian handicapper and he may be a bit more lenient this time around.

CHANNON IN HOT FORM

Mick Channon is truly firing now and he had two winners on the board while some racegoers were still digesting their lunch.

The Sixties Icon filly Czabo, 16/1, had clearly learned from her Newmarket debut and proved just too good for Charlie Hills’ well-backed newcomer Jadaayil in the six-furlong maiden, while Epsom Icon, another promising juvenile, made light of his position as 12/1 outsider of four in the Listed Washington Singer Stakes and came home a length in front of Dessertoflife. Silvestre de Sousa and Graham Lee were the winning jockeys.