Having won on All-Weather Finals Day at Lingfield on just his second run, this was a stiffer task but the result barely looked in doubt.

Sent off the 9-2 joint-favourite, SovD sat just off the pace before Jimmy kicked, taking two lengths out of the field a furlong out, and that proved decisive.

Richard Fahey’s Gabrial lunged late but went down by half a length, with the same back to Jallota.

Our eight-year-old became the oldest winner in the race’s history.

“Wasn’t I lucky the day I got that phone call, my name just came up when David (Nicholls) retired.
It’s a big day for us, our first runner in a Group race and it’s a winner.
Jimmy kept the ride on him after Lingfield and it’s a big day for all the team. He might be eight but he’s not getting worse. Plan A was Lingfield so where we go next I don’t know, we had a choice of coming here or Leicester (King Richard III Stakes on Saturday) but there was twice as much prize money here and it wasn’t a much harder race, so that’s why we came.”

Ruth Carr

“I’m two for two at Sandown and two from two on him, he did it very well. He travelled, he loved the ground being a bit softer and did it well in the end. He showed a good attitude, I was in front a bit soon but he stuck on well.”

James Sullivan

Racing UK