IN most other respects this was an ordinary day to kick off the Leger Festival but the Listed j2o Spritz Scarbrough Stakes went to 11/4 favourite Cotai Glory, giving Charlie Hills yet another winner in a classy sprint.

Always just off the pace, George Baker sent Cotai Glory to the front a furlong out and held the challenge of the evergreen Kingsgate Native by a length.

The drying ground helped the winner, who was making up for an unfortunate defeat in the Flying Childers here last year, when he swerved and deposited Baker on the turf.

There were no excuses among the beaten contingent this time, the main surprise being the eclipse of Paul Midgeley’s duo Monsieur Joe and Desert Law, who have both been running well all summer.

Godolphin continue to send out a steady stream of winners and well-backed 10/11 favourite Venturous will probably take his place in the Middle Park at Newmarket after scoring a shade cosily for William Buick in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Conditions Stakes over six furlongs.