Royal Hunt Cup

DARK Vision (Mark Johnston/William Buick) provided Godolphin with a winner in the feature handicap, returning at 15/2, He confirmed notions formed at Newcastle earlier in the month, that he was about to leave a disappointing three-year-old season behind, as he finished best to beat Montatham (yet another second place for the luckless Haggas stable), Pogo and his own stable-companion Vale Of Kent, with the first four comfortably clear of the rest in a finish dominated by those who raced on the stands’ side.

The son of Dark Angel was a smart juvenile, winning his first three races, including the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, when racing in the colours of his trainer’s stable partnership Kingsley Park 10. He was subsequently sold to Godolphin to stay in the yard, but failed to win in 2019.

He was, however, right back to his very best here, despite having to switch more than once as those who raced in the middle and on the stands’ rail merged into one group. He was full value for the one-and-a-quarter-length margin, and looks capable of picking up blacktype given the style of this victory, although Johnston is happy to leave the decision to step back into pattern company with the official handicapper.