The Club Godolphin Cesarewitch over two and a quarter miles at Newmarket saw a dramatic last-to-first success for Beylerbeyi (7/1).

Partnered by Billy Loughnane, the five-year-old Shamardal gelding was last of the 19 runners with half a mile to go but made rapid progress to take the lead well inside the final furlong and ran on to defeat Irish challenger Dawn Rising (17/2) by an ultimately comfortable length and a quarter.

Billy Loughnane said: “We went down early to the start to try and keep a lid on him. He is very free, but in the race he switches off. I just worked my arms out on the way down!

“He bit his tongue and was in a ball of sweat going down but it definitely didn’t stop him and all he’s done is improve and improve this year.

“I won on him at Newmarket in the middle of the year and the only slight doubt today was whether he’d stay the trip, but he definitely did. It was a nice performance.

“Winning big handicaps is always good and it’s great to get Ian (Williams, trainer) a big winner too.”

Ian Williams added: “He is quite an amazing horse actually. He has never learned to settle and has always wanted further but has been so hard on himself.

“The big worries today were getting him to the start and settling in the race. He has done both and Billy gave him a superb ride.

“It was a good performance today and an exceptional performance from the jockey.

“We are actually quite lucky that he was beaten in his last two starts as that meant he had less weight today.

“We didn’t have a clue if he’d stay the trip today because it is ultimately a tough thing to do.

“He has kept progressing and what he has achieved today is amazing. It was a huge performance from him and a huge performance from the jockey – not such a huge performance from the trainer!”