Palace House Stakes: Seven Questions finds answers at Newmarket

Seven Questions was a shock 33-1 winner of the Group Three William Hill Palace House Stakes over five furlongs for trainer George Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd.

The three-year-old sprinter landed a hat-trick last season before heading to Meydan for three races in January and February this year. And he was back in the winner’s enclosure here after a thrilling finish which saw Charlie Fellowes’ Vadream (14-1) beaten by just a head and Karl Burke’s Beautiful Diamond (5-2 Fav) a further short head back in third.

Trainer Scott said the secret to Seven Questions’ success was a night away from home on the eve of the race.

He explained: “It’s been a big team effort with this horse as he’s as quirky as they come.

“He spent the night as the racecourse last night as we know when he gets on the horsebox, he gets very stirred up. So, he had an away night about half a mile from his stable.

“We saddled him about an hour ago and brought him down – he was trying to kick everyone. He’s a talented horse on his day and got a brilliant ride.

“He’s too much for me to handle so I went to watch City Of Troy warm up instead! But often those horses are the most talented. It’s been great this season and as I say, it’s a real team effort. We’ve got some great owners – those we’ve had a long time and some new ones. It’s a long season and we won’t be resting on our laurels but it’s lovely to get a winner like this.

“We’ll have to re-evaluate where we go now as he was very much at a crossroads – we’ll have to see whether he is a Royal Ascot horse. I’ll have to speak to the owners.

“He got a bit unbalanced in the dip but Callum Shepherd is an outstanding rider – he does things on horses you can’t teach.

“I’m a Newmarket boy and to have winners at our flagship meeting is very special.”

Meanwhile owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s extraordinary run of form continued as Liberty Lane notched up the fourth win for his familiar yellow and black silks of this year’s QIPCO Guineas Festival.

The four-year-old gelding put a disappointing run in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster in March behind him to land the Heritage Handicap William Hill Suffolk Stakes by a length and three quarters.

The 9-1 chance, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, fended off Dutch Decoy (13-2) from the Charlie Johnston yard with John & Thady Gosden’s Torito a short head behind in third.  

Trainer Burke, who is in fine form himself with a 27% strike rate from 45 runners in the last fortnight going into today, said: “He came back sick from the Lincoln. He scoped very dirty afterwards and was a sick horse for three to four weeks afterwards.

“I only ran him today because I knew Sheikh Obaid was going to be here and it was a £100,000 race which we had entered early. He was just starting to come to himself and it was a pleasant surprise today – I thought he’d run well but I didn’t expect that.

“He has learnt to relax in his races as he used to be very keen. He was second here last season and then went to the Dante when he ran too free but led the field until a furlong and a half out. Cliff gave him a great ride today and got him into a great rhythm.

“He will improve and will stay a mile and a quarter now he’s learnt to relax. I’ve no idea where he’ll go next.”