West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon was full of praise for jockey Tony Culhane after his victory aboard Som Tala in the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcas-tle.

The 40-year-old rider seized the initiative from his handy inside draw to dictate his own pace on the six-year-old in Europe’s richest two-mile handicap.

And he kept the 16-1 shot going to see off all challengers, before landing the first prize of £110,970 by three-quarters of a length from Wells Lyrical.

Channon, who watched the race at home, said: "We didn't plan to make it, but Tony has got it dead right and all credit to him, it was a superb piece of jockeyship.

"We thought we'd be handy, but nobody wanted to go on and Tony's dictated the gallop.”

After passing the post, a delighted Culhane commented: “He kept finding and when I just let out a reef at the four-furlong pole, I thought it is going to take a good one to get him because he was striding out.”

Channon and Culhane went on to complete a 55-1 double when The Human League got off the mark in the six-furlong maiden.

Meanwhile, the West Ilsley trainer was out of luck with Youmzain in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

The six-year-old was attempting to repeat last year’s victory in the Group 1 contest, but partnered by Christophe Soumillon for the first time, he could finish only third.

Wantage trainer Henry Candy’s belief that the racecourse would bring the best out of Dorback proved well-founded as the colt made a winning debut at Windsor.

The son of Kyllachy strode out in grand style under Dane O’Neill to beat Buzzword by a length and a half in the six-furlong maiden.

Candy said: “I thought when he got to the races he would wake up and do his stuff.”

Dorback is set to have one more run before being aimed at the DBS St Leger Sales race at the York Ebor meeting.

Darryll Holland’s enterprise helped Huygens spring a 25-1 shock for West Ilsley trainer Denis Coakley at Folkestone.

The 37-year-old jockey worked out that the ground on the far side was quicker than the stands’ side, and brought the son of Zafeen home by two and three-quarter lengths.

Whatcombe trainer Paul Cole landed an across-the-card double with Traphalgar at Beverley and Mistic Magic at Newbury.

At Beverley, Hook Norton trainer Peter Hiatt struck with They All Laughed in a claimer.

Aston Rowant trainer Lawney Hill sent out What’s Up Doc to land a notable double in the space of six days with wins on the Flat and over jumps Firstly, the versatile eight-year-old landed a Brighton claimer, before turning out again at Uttoxeter where he collected a selling hurdle.