AEOLUS was never the easiest of horses to catch right during his time with Ed McMahon and it took a very calm, patient ride by Richard Hughes to get him home in listed company at Haydock last year.

Now with Ed Walker, the four-year-old benefited from similar treatment in the hands of George Baker and came from last to first in the six-furlong Group 3 Chipchase Stakes.

That Is The Spirit took them along but gave way to Mattmu two furlongs from home. Tim Easterby’s colt is a likeable sort and a reliable benchmark but Aeolus (12/1) swooped late on to score by half a length. Danzeno was right behind in third.

“We just got away with the ground,” Walker said. “I knew it wasn’t rattling fast but he is better with more give. He is ground dependent so there are no firm plans.”

There were emotional scenes afterwards, winning owner-breeder Andrew Buxton having attended his wife’s funeral the day before. Lady Jane finally succumbed after a long battle with cancer.

Baker’s big-race double, only seven days after his triumph in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, paid just over 109/1.

HANAGAN ON TARGET

Paul Hanagan’s move to ride as first jockey to Hamdan Al Maktoum has been a complete success and he has also shown himself to be an outstanding judge of pace.

In the seven-furlong handicap sponsored by Betfred he produced Ed Dunlop’s 7/2 favourite Zarwaan with perfect timing to get up close home and beat Lulu The Zulu by a head with Foxtrot Romeo only a neck behind in third.

Zarwaan, a Dutch Art gelding, ran well in the Victoria Cup at Ascot. Suited by fast ground, he was backed down to 7/2 favourite here and Hanagan merely lobbed along at the back before starting to make ground at half-way.

Going right through with his effort, Zarwaan hit the front well inside the final furlong and was cheered to the echo by many who must have doubted Hanagan’s icy calm when there were several lengths to make up.

The winner carried 10st here and will be hard to place from now on, though the Bunbury Cup at the Newmarket July Meeting makes plenty of appeal.

He was considered for the Wokingham although, as Hanagan observed, it was even firmer there and he was taken out.

Ed Walker, successful with Aeolus, also won the six-furlong handicap with the game and consistent Bushcraft, another well-backed favourite at 4/1.

Not many sprinters win three in a row at this level but Bushcraft has come back in style from a career-threatening injury. He was well ridden by Graham Lee and is another who warrants consideration for the Bunbury Cup.