Odds-on favourite Beacon endured a nightmare run as Charles Hills’ Cotai Glory and George Baker made all the running in the Group 3 bet365 Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs. Quickly away, the 3/1 chance appreciated the return to the minimum trip and was in command as trouble developed behind. Never quite as close as Richard Hughes would have wished, Beacon (10/11) was switched right with time running out and then had to check and switch again as runner-up Fast Act edged left. It was too late and Cotai Glory held Fast Act by half a length with Beacon a head behind in third. With normal luck in running he would almost certainly have won.

Cotai Glory, an Exceed And Excel colt, was continuing Hills’ good run with his two-year-olds.

“He has a lot of speed, so I thought it would suit him coming down the hill and he does love this fast ground,’’ the trainer said. “The going will dictate where he goes now but it could be the Morny, back over six furlongs, of the Flying Childers or the Cornwallis over five.’’

This has been a superb season for Baker, who was reaching 100 winners far quicker than at any time in his career. “It’s usually the end of November or the beginning of December before I get to 100 but I’ve been lucky to get some great rides from trainers in terrific form.’’

Cotai Glory clocked 57.30 seconds, a new juvenile record, and the jockey was reasonably confident that he would always be best over the minimum distance.

FORTUNES REVERSED

The Hannon team’s fortunes suffered another odds-on reverse when last year’s top-rated juvenile Toormore failed to justify 5/6 favouritism in the day’s feature event, the Group 2 bet365 Lennox Stakes, victory going to the sometimes frustrating Es Que Love at 13/2.

Always a strong traveller, he has sometimes found disappointingly little in a tight finish, especially at Newbury last time and different tactics were adopted by Adam Kirby here for trainer Clive Cox.

Boom And Bust made the running but the challenges came thick and fast soon after passing the two-furlong marker, with Toormore keeping on strongly, last year’s winner Garswood making his effort and Anjaal arriving on the outside. Toormore went on but Es Que Love, probably helped by being a little short of room, found plenty inside the final furlong to get up and score by a neck with Anjaal only half a length away in third.

It was a well-executed ride by Kirby but the stewards were unhappy with his use of the whip and a fifth transgression in six months meant a referral to the BHA in London, where he probably faces a lengthy ban. That was disappointing for both jockey and trainer, though Cox was understandably delighted to win a race he has long coveted. He had finished second in it once with Balthazar’s Gift and third three times with Dunelight twice and Beacon Lodge.

“He’d been getting to the front a shade early in his races this year and we knew we had to ride him a bit more patiently. Adam has done it to perfection,’’ he said.

Richard Hannon was commendably honest about Toormore.

“He was a very good two-year-old but he’s not as good at three and that’s all there is to it. He’s still a pretty decent horse and there will be plenty of days with him.’’