THE opening Group 3 Coral Charge went to northern raider Judicial, who tracked early leader Mirza and hit the front just inside the final furlong. He was always holding on, although the splendidly resilient eight-year-old Muthmir ran him to a neck at the line.

Trained by Julie Camacho, whose first group winner this was, and ridden by Paul Mulrennan, Judicial (4/1 favourite) is showing splendid form at six. He likes fast ground, a stiff finish and holds track records at Beverley and Pontefract.

With the likes of Borderlescott and Meccas Angel, the north has shown it can hold its own in the top sprints and the Nunthorpe at York is on Judicial’s agenda. Camacho’s husband Steve Brown and his daughter Samantha took no chances, leaving north Yorkshire at 4.30am and quietly walking the winner to the start.

Hughie Morrison makes very few mistakes with his stayers and 9/4 favourite Nearly Caught repeated last year’s success in the Listed Coral Marathon over two miles. Always travelling well for James Doyle, he reeled in Jukebox Jive and strode clear to beat Platitude by just over a length.

Nearly Caught may have a tilt at the Ebor although his best form is over two miles. He did not stay the extended trip in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot.

TANK ROLLS HOME

James Doyle rode a contrasting race in the other listed event, the Coral Distaff over a mile. Making all the running on William Haggas’ Awesometank, 6/1, he kept enough in reserve to hold Desert Diamond with Preening in third.

This was only Awesometank’s second try in listed company and Haggas may well find a modest Group 3 for her.

Tigre Du Terrelanded the Coral Challenge, a mile handicap worth more than £46,000 to the winner.

He was sparking a double for trainer Richard Hannon and received a very good ride from Tom Marquand, who moved through to challenge Rum Runner a furlong out and then went on to beat Escobar and Via Serendipity quite comfortably. There was a sustained gamble on him from 8/1 down to 9/2 favourite.

“We’ve always thought an awful lot of him but for me he’s disappointed after winning his maiden,” Hannon said. “He’s back up there now and is very likely to go to Goodwood for the Golden Mile.”

The stable completed a double when 10/1 chance Rogue won the seven-furlong handicap quite tidily in the hands of Thore Hammer Hansen, a stylish apprentice who had one previous winner here to his name but eight in Germany. He looks excellent value for his 7lb claim.

Oisin Murphy’s excellent day ended on the right note when Archie Watson’s De Medici, 4/1, battled on well to hold Jack Regan in the mile and a quarter handicap.

Horseplay inches it

ANDREW Balding’s Horseplay got home by inches from God Given in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock on Saturday.

The market just favoured Luca Cumani’s runner-up, who led for most of the race and fought back well but 11/4 chance Horseplay headed him 120 yards out and held on by a short-head, with Precious Ramotswe third.

Owned and bred by the Cliveden Stud, she may go for the Yorkshire Oaks. She handled fast ground well here.

Johnston’s form

MARK Johnston is in sublime form and completed a handsome double as Making Miracles and Rainbow Rebel landed the very valuable bet365 Handicap and bet365 Old Newton Cup respectively.

Making Miracles started at 9/2 and made all over a mile and three-quarters, keeping on in tremendous style to hold Austrian School by three lengths in the hands of Richard Kingscote.

Marco Botti’s Crowned Eagle looked the winner of the Old Newton Cup but Rainbow Rebel, under a powerful ride from Joe Fanning, got up to deny him by a neck.

Irish winner

A WOLVERHAMPTON Irish winner on Monday night was Temasek Star (10/1) by five lengths over one mile, four furlongs.

Shane Kelly was on board for trainer Anthony McCann.