KEVIN Prendergast’s Investec Derby runner-up Madhmoon booked his return to the big time with a display of assurance and understated authority in the Group 3 Invesco Pension Consultants Desmond Stakes.

The imposing colt looked as well as ever as he dropped back to a mile for the first time since his fourth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and following his valiant efforts against the best of his generation Madhmoon was returned the 4/7 favourite. The Chris Hayes-ridden colt didn’t break as smartly as some of his rivals but he was a menacing presence on the outside of the field rounding the last bend and from this point on the outcome looked inevitable. Madhmoon was never subjected to strong pressure to get on terms with the leaders and he asserted over the course of the last furlong to defeat Zuenoon by a length and a half.