WILLIAM Buick’s day very nearly became even better when he rode a canny race on Hughie Morrison’s Nearly Caught in the Listed Coral Marathon over two miles.

Quickening sharply soon after turning for home, he rode one of his strongest finishes, only for Frankie Dettori to pounce on Sandro Botticelli in the last 50 yards.

The latter held She Is No Lady by a short-head, with Nearly Caught a gallant third, followed by Pallasator, who was checked in the closing stages and looked unlucky.

By and large, horses had recovered well from their exertions at Royal Ascot. Pallasator ran in the Gold Cup and Sandro Botticelli finished a fair fifth in the Queen Alexandra. Trainer John Ryan put the cheekpieces back on here and the 8/1 shot gave everything in a tight finish.

“We thought if he proved himself today we’d go for the Goodwood Cup next and that’s the plan,” Ryan said. No doubt a rematch with Pallasator is on the cards.

Roger Charlton withdrew likely favourite Quest For More on the ground but this talented stayer will prove a major player in any Cup race he contests.

BRANDO HOLDS ON

The ground was always going to be testing on the diagonal sprint course but it mattered little to Kevin Ryan’s Brando.

As a son of Pivotal he was in his element and went clear for Tom Eaves in the Group 3 Coral Charge, looking a certainty to justify the heavy support which saw him sent off 2/1 favourite.

However, he began to tread water inside the final furlong and Monsieur Joe closed to within a short-head at the line. Jane’s Memory was all of five lengths away as the going took its toll.

Brando was only just denied in the Wokingham but is better at five furlongs than six. The Nunthorpe and the Prix de l’Abbaye, which Ryan has won in the past, look tempting targets.

“He was getting a bit lonely out in front,” the trainer said. “He was very impressive, though. We learned a lot today and will hang on to him in future, giving him something to aim at.”

Richard Hannon is rarely taken by surprise but Light Up Our World drifted out to 20/1 before the Listed Coral Distaff and connections probably travelled more in hope than expectation. However, she made all for Pat Dobbs and held Wilamina by just over a length with Sharaakah third.

“She deserved that,” Hannon observed. “There was a time when her owner was thinking of the Prix de Diane but she slightly let us down mid-season. She’s put on a bit of weight and it’s lovely to see her back.”

West Sussex trainer William Knight is enjoying a successful campaign and 16/1 chance Secret Art came with a well-timed challenge for Martin Dwyer to land the valuable Coral Challenge, an intricate mile handicap.

The winner handled the ground better than old rival Mutamakkin, who started 7/2 favourite but beat only one home.

Favourite backers did quite well overall with Rod Millman’s 4/1 co-favourite Sir Roderic taking the opening seven-furlong handicap for Andrea Atzeni and the jockey completing a double in the last when another co-favourite, Roger Varian’s 3/1 shot Gibbs Hill, just denied Dwyer on White Shaheen.