Qipco Champions Sprint next for Strath Burn

The Charlie Hills-trained three-year-old (pictured) finished a short-head second to unbeaten Twilight Son in the Gr.1 Betfred Sprint Cup, a huge leap in class but one that almost ended in glory. Strath Burn, ridden by Andrea Atzeni for Qatar Racing and Ronnie Bartlett, was drawn in stall 16 while the Henry Candy-trained winner and the third home - Magical Memory, also trained by Hills - came from stalls five and six.

Having to get across from the wide draw adds merit to Strath Burn's performance, and encourages hopes he can reverse placings with the winner if they meet again at Ascot.

The first three were all three-year-olds and Hills said: "It's a pretty strong year for three-year-old sprinters. I'm very proud of both my horses, and the winner is very good.

"The draw for Strath Burn wasn't ideal, so he has done marvellously well to get where he did. He has a lot of class and can only get better because he's a big, strong horse."

Strath Burn (centre) makes Twilight Son fight for victory

Pearl Secret, who also ran for Qatar Racing, finished 11th of the 15 runners.

Atzeni rides at Veliefendi in Turkey today when he dons the maroon and gold braid colours to ride the Andrea Wohler-trained Rogue Runner in the Gr.2 International Bosphorus Cup (14.00 UK time) over 12 furlongs.

Pictures by Dan Abraham