ROGER Varian and Andrea Atzeni were quickly off the mark when Sharja Bridge, who held a clear chance at the weights and was backed down to 8/13 accordingly, landed the Listed Unibet Doncaster Mile in impressive fashion.

The ratings worked out almost to the ounce with Richard Hannon’s Red Starlight, the only horse to have beaten Auxerre seeking to overturn a 10lb deficit on official figures. Her 5lb fillies’ allowance accounted for half of it and she led two furlongs from home but only on sufferance as Sharja Bridge cruised alongside and went on to score by two lengths. Hardy old warrior Gabrial kept on willingly in third.