When GM Hopkins hit the front close home he looked sure to provide John Gosden with a Champions Day treble.
The 3/1 favourite Lord Glitters, advised ante-post at 10/1 by Ben Linfoot in our What Happens Next column, met trouble in running on entering the final furlong and his chance looked to have gone. However, once switched into the clear he fairly flew home, winning by a neck. Dark Red was third and Accidental Agent fourth.
O'Meara said: "It was a little bit nerve wracking to watch, he got in all sorts of trouble, no fault of Danny's. He didn't get out until late on and we felt we needed to be far side and he had to pull out near side.
"The horse has got an amazing turn of foot. We bought him from France and the idea was to run him in the Challenge Cup here and then come to this race. We hit the woodwork there and won this and it's been great.
"We're hoping he might be a Group horse. We recently retired Mondialiste owned by Geoff (Turnbull), and this guy was bought to fill his boots and keep the colours in these good races.
"Hopefully he'll be as talented as Mondialiste given time. It's early days, that's only the 10th or 11th run of his life and he's obviously very talented."
The winning jockey said: "He is a very good horse in the making. He has a great turn of foot and has won a load of races in France. They go slow in France and then they quicken up and I think he is quite a good purchase by David and the owners [Geoff & Sandra Turnbull].
"There is more to come and he looks like a Group horse."
GM Hopkins gave connections plenty to shout about in defeat but will now head to the Tattersalls Sales for owner Robin Geffen.
"He's run an absolute blinder," said Gosden. "He's a dear, dear horse and we love him to bits. He goes on any going and he's been in the grip of the handicapper, but he almost got the better of him [the handicapper] today. What a wonderful horse."
GM Hopkins and jockey Robert Havlin also finished second in the 2015 running of this mile handicap.
"He's given me a great ride, he's such an honest horse," said Havlin.
"He's been second in this race twice now and he was five pounds higher last time but he was giving two pounds to the winner today and it told towards the end of the race."
