Lion’s Pride produces 20-1 surprise in Godolphin Stakes

John and Thady Gosden’s Lion’s Pride roared loudly at Newmarket to cause a surprise in the Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket.

Sent off the 20-1 outsider of seven, the five-year-old was making just his second start of the season and first since April and was ridden with patience by Robert Havlin, holding a position in midfield in the early exchanges.

Dragged along the Rowley Mile by those who began to make their move around him, he was smuggled into contention entering the dip before showing an electric turn of foot up the hill for home.

There was no rival in sight late in the day as he stormed to a seven-length success, with George Scott’s Isle Of Jura a respectable second in his first outing for 461 days. Charlie Appleby’s 5-4 favourite By The Book was another returning form a layoff in third.

Gosden senior said: “He’s been off for quite a while but he’s always had a lot of ability.

“I thought he’d run well, but I didn’t quite expect him to win like that. He sprouted wings off a strong pace. I was very pleased with the way he was travelling in the race and then he had to wait to get a run.

“This is summer ground today and he loves that. There’s plenty of all-weather races coming up over the winter we could look at or maybe somewhere in the Middle East. You need invitations, so we’ll see if we can get one.”

Scott, meanwhile, was delighted with Isle Of Jura, who had not run since landing last year’s Hardwicke at Royal Ascot.

“I’m obviously very, very happy. Billy (Loughnane) said he was very rusty and to me he raced like a horse that had been off a long time,” said the Newmarket handler.

“Billy was squeezing him from a long way out and then as he moved into the race you saw the old Isle Of Jura. He loomed into the race but got a little bit tired and was beaten fair and square on the day.

“Provided the horse is sound in the morning it was a really pleasing return to racing for him and all being well we’ll head for the Bahrain International (Trophy). He loves that track and we knew he’d take a run just to blow the cobwebs away.

“The timing works well and he’s an incredibly important, special horse to us. It’s so nice to have him back, to be honest.”