Billesdon Brook continues on the upgrade with Prestige Stakes success

Billesdon Brook showed the penny has well and truly dropped as she took her form to a new level in the Grosvenor Sport Prestige Stakes at Goodwood.

Although taking four attempts to get off the mark, the daughter of Champs Elysses continued her rise through the ranks when backing up her last time out nursery win at the track in the Group Three contest.

After looking beaten last time out before somehow getting up by a head, the Richard Hannon-trained two-year-old endured a much smoother passage on this occasion, holding the late rally of Whitefountainfairy by three-quarters of a length.

Following the race the 4-1 winner was introduced at 40-1 for next year's Qipco 1000 Guineas by Paddy Power.

Hannon said: "I was very impressed. The fact she quickened past horses that were already quickening at the time was impressive.

"Ryan Moore said he thought when she gets to the front she does just enough and I think she did that there. Sean (Levey) gave her a lovely ride and kept filling her up.

"How we nearly got that beat in a nursery I'll have to ask Sean.

"The May Hill is a possibility. Unfortunately the Moyglare had closed before she won a race, which is typical. I am sure there is something in the pipeline she will take a lot of beating in."

Andrew Balding said of the runner-up: "I am very happy with that. We have not had her that long and she has run like the way she has been working at home. I am sure she can win a Listed race at some point."

Johnny Barnes ended a lean spell stretching back almost two years when scorching clear of his rivals in the Grosvenor Sport Handicap.

The John Gosden-trained five-year-old gained the win his efforts this season had deserved when claiming his first success since landing a Group Three at Deauville in August 30 2015 in the seven-furlong event.

Although forced to take the brave man's route up the inside, the move paid off, with jockey Robert Tart getting a clear passage close to the rail before keeping the son of Acclamation up to his work to score by a length.

Gosden said of the 13-2 winner: "Because it had such a hammering at the main meeting, the ground was loose and rough, so he handled it well.

"He has got a quick digging action and it suited him and he got through on the rail. He never runs a bad race, but he usually runs up the backside of something as he comes from so far back.

"He is in the Ayr Gold Cup. He was unlucky in that last year and he finished about eighth, but never got a run so we will take a look at the Ayr Gold Cup."