ROYAL Ascot is less than a month away and a couple runners ran compelling auditions for the meeting over the weekend, writes Andy Stephens.

Chief among them was Sahara King, touched off by Lost Boys in a typically competitive edition of the London Gold Cup at Newbury. He had to drop in from his outside stall - RaceiQ’s draw data suggested Lost Boys had a 0.44-length advantage over him before the gates had even opened - and, to compound matters, also challenged wide.

The acceleration he showed to surge from seventh to first in the ninth furlong was quite something. He polished those 220 yards off in 11.24 secinds, which was 0.3 seconds quicker than anything else in the field, having been the only runner to dip under 11 seconds in the eighth furlong.

However, Lost Boys managed to edge him out, being marginally quicker in the final furlong when edging right and triggering a stewards’ enquiry.

Sahara King has gone up 6lb in the ratings for this effort, but will merit consideration in whichever race is chosen for him at Ascot, while the winner, pushed up 7lb, should also be followed.

At Newmarket, on the same day, Silver Ghost shaped like a winner in waiting when runner-up in the seven-furlong handicap.

The Emma Lavelle-trained filly travelled easily at the back of the field, but was still only ninth approaching the final furlong, with Finley Marsh exploring a wide path to home. The combination almost got up.

Silver Ghost completed the final furlong in 11.64 seconds, whereas none of her rivals managed under 12 seconds. She had also been fastest in the fifth and sixth furlongs, but was simply too far out of her ground, with a subsequent 2lb rise looking lenient.

The four-year-old will be every interesting if making the cut for the Buckingham Palace Stakes, or a second attempt at the Sandringham Stakes.