Royal Ascot winner is back on song

Extortionist (pictured), owned by Sheikh Suhaim, trained by Olly and Hetta Stevens at Robins Farm and ridden by Jim Crowley, conceded weight all round and scored decisively in the Brigadier Gerard Handicap over five furlongs. This was his first win since landing last year's Windsor Castle Stakes, although he had put up some good performances subsequently in defeat.

Crowley was quoted in the Racing Post as saying: "Extortionist got a bump just after the start at Sandown last time and I left him alone after that. This fast ground is really important to him."

A win for the Ger Lyons-trained Snowmane at Down Royal and a close second for stablemate Magnolia Beach in the Magners Ulster Derby were other pleasing efforts following a series of near misses at Royal Ascot.

Cappella Sansevero (Coventry Stakes), Queen Catrine (Sandringham Handicap) andMind Of Madness (Norfolk Stakes) all finished second, while Hot Streak (King's Stand Stakes), Purr Along (Duke Of Cambridge Stakes) and Captain Morley (King George V Handicap) took third places. Peace And War, who finished sixth of 21 in the Albany Stakes, was among a group of other horses owned by Qatar Racing or in partnerships who ran with promise.