Capable Guest, trained by Mick Channon at West Ilsley, ran out a shock 25-1 winner of the totesport betXtra Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar, writes Russell Smith.

The six-year-old responded in good style when asked for his effort by Joe Fanning, and kept on to score by half a length and the same from Fragrancy and Monte Alto.

Lesley White, Channon's representative, said: "The boss tried different tactics today.

"He said Joe should let the horse do his own thing and he has gone and done it well in the end."

Capable Guest is now set to bid for more big-race glory in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, June 18.

It was the second 25-1 stunner Channon had delivered in as many days after Ajigolo landed a six-furlong handicap at Newmarket.

The five-year-old came home a length-and-three-quarters ahead of Express Wish under Tadgh O'Shea to give the West Ilsley trainer some small comfort for Nahoodh's disappointing run in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

Please Sing could be Royal Ascot-bound after making a winning debut for Channon at Leicester.

The two-year-old earned a 20-1 quote with Coral for the Queen Mary Stakes after taking a five-furlong maiden by a length and a quarter from Our Wee Girl.

Channon also struck with Mazzola, who stormed home by six lengths at Brighton.

Shampagne, from Paul Cole's Whatcombe stables, near Wantage, could be handed the chance to pop a few corks at Royal Ascot.

Richard Quinn's mount bolted up by three and three-quarter lengths at Pontefract, and could now tackle the Coventry Stakes, with his main target the DBS £300,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes at York on August 21.

Cole also enjoyed success with 14-1 shot Nikolaievich in a seven-furlong claimer at Leicester.

Blinkered for the first time and dropping in grade, the gelding, ridden by Nelson de Souza, beat Fly In Johnny by three-quarters of a length.

Mujood is proving a real star for Eve Johnson Houghton's Blewbury stables, near Didcot.

The five-year-old, ridden by Richard Mullen, completed a hat-trick of wins in the space of three weeks with a half-length victory over an extended seven furlongs at Beverley. Johnson Houghton commented: "I still can't believe that of all my horses he is the one to get up a hat-trick.

"I think he has got the measure of the handicapper, although it is possible that the handicapper has the measure of him!"

Wantage trainer Henry Candy has his sprinters in flying form, and Seamus Shindig added to his tally by landing a six-furlong handicap at Salisbury.

Fervent Prince, from Hughie Morrison's East Ilsley yard, is in line for a crack at the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot following his win at Haydock.

The three-year-old battled on well under Travis Block to beat Kal Barg by a head in a seven-furlong handicap.

Morrison and Travis Block also struck with Kasumi, who made the 750-mile round trip to Musselburgh pay by justifying odds-on favouritism in a mile handicap.

Over the jumps, Bell Rock gave Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill a timely tonic after his old favourite Mr Splodge was put down at the Kingston Blount point-to-point, with a thrilling victory at Huntingdon.

Jumping the last fence in third in the hunters' chase, Emily Jarvis's mount flew on the run-in to get up in the last stride and beat Watership Down by a nose.

Orfeo Conti gave Henrietta Knight's West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, a welcome winner on the same card with a pillar-to-post success under Paul Moloney in a handicap chase.

Cove Mountain maintained the winning run of Mark Rimell's Leafield stables, near Witney, with victory in a mares' handicap hurdle at Towcester.