BATTLEGROUND (11/4f) was a comfortable winner of the Listed Chesham Stakes, lengthening impressively in the final furlong to take the seven-furlong contest by two and a half lengths from Mark Johnston's March Law (18/1).

Sired by War Front, the two-year-old colt Battleground is the first foal of 2016 Arc heroine Found.

Aidan O'Brien said: "Battleground ran at Naas, finished a good fifth and Wayne Lordan loved him. We are delighted to win today.

"He had a good clear run at Naas, there was no hard luck story but he learned a lot from it. He is out of Found so you would have hoped he would stay further really.

"We were worried about the ground. Battleground is by War Front, but Found handled soft ground when she won the Breeders' Cup Turf [2015].

"Battleground is an exciting horse - he could be anything. He could be one for the July Meeting or the National Stakes. I would imagine he would stay well and probably a mile will be his trip. Found got a mile and a half, but he is by War Front and that is a big influence for speed.

"We are hoping that he could progress into a very good miler. Found was an unbelievable, magic mare. She was one of the very special ones and everyone remembers her. Obviously, this is her first foal and everyone wants to do well. Battleground is an unbelievable specimen really.

"It was a big ask for our two-year-olds as most of them only run last week. We needed to get a run into him otherwise it was going to be difficult to get into the race as they would have been fourth or fifth preference. We were lucky in this race that it was not a full field and he finished fifth on his debut.

"Obviously, some two-year-olds have disappointed this week, but they are entitled to."

O'Brien hit the bar twice earlier on the card when second in the Wolferton Stakes with Sir Dragonet and the Jersey Stakes with Monarch Of Egypt.

Mountain Angel took the Wolferton, getting first run on the runner-up but still running out a smooth winner for James Doyle and Roger Varian, who were having their third and second respective winners of the week.

Doyle said: "He did it, it worked out perfectly for him. Obviously, he ran a good race in it last year, finishing fifth, when he got into a bit of scrimmaging in Swinley Bottom and that put paid to his chances.

"Today the rain has come for him nicely, as he relishes cut in the ground, and it couldn't have been much smoother, he travelled around really good.

"I could have done with them going just a bit quicker to help him relax, but he carted me into it. I pulled my googles down when we turned in, and couldn't believe how much room we had up the inside.

"It was just a case of not getting there too early and he really knuckled down well when I asked him.

Jersey

Varian didn't have to wait long to double his tally as Molatham saw off Monarch Of Egypt in the Jersey Stakes for another rider in fine form, Jim Crowley who was recording his fifth winner of the week.

Crowley said: "Molatham was very tough. He had the one run at the backend of last year on soft ground at Newmarket and he didn't fire. His form before that was very strong. He beat Wichita at Doncaster earlier in the year.

"I had been down to ride him work earlier in the year when we were thinking of the 2000 Guineas. He was working quite lazily at home, but today when the rain had come, I was a little bit concerned. However, when you look at his pedigree, it showed that he wouldn't mind a bit of cut in the ground and the way he moves suggests that too. He handled soft ground well today and maybe at Newmarket last season it was the undulations that caught him out.

"I got headed and probably found myself there too soon in the race. Molatham is a horse who does not want to be in front two furlongs out. He was going so well and I found myself in front. On the soft ground, it was difficult for me to sit and then expect him to pick up, so I went for home on him. I got headed [by Monarch Of Egypt, second] and that did me a favour.

"The reason we came back to seven furlongs is that we weren't 100% sure he would get the mile. However, on that run today, you would imagine a mile would not be a problem, but I don't think there is a need to step back up at the moment."

Reflection on both of his runner-ups, O'Brien said: "Both ran well. Sir Dragonet ran a great race and came home very well, but the winner handled the ground well. Monarch Of Egypt also ran a great race and the winner in that race also handled the ground well."