Charlie Appleby's Nahanni was introduced at 25/1 for the Cazoo Derby after showing guts to fend off a posse of rivals in the Cazoo Blue Riband Trial at Epsom.
A late drift saw him go off the 9/4 favourite and he had to fight hard under William Buick after being flanked on either side by challengers in the final quarter mile.
Mighty Ulysses loomed up on his outside before his effort petered out, while Zain Sarinda and Grand Alliance also gave the winner something to think about as the latter won the battle for second by a neck.
However, Appleby's charge, dropping back in trip from 1m4f, dug deep to get the job done by half a length, earning an automatic entry into the Derby in the process.
Not entered for the Classic beforehand, he was introduced into the betting at 25/1 by almost every UK bookmaker, including Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook.
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Buick, who teamed up to land the Derby with Appleby in 2018 with Masar, said: “It was a nice performance and he has come on again. He was back down in trip from Leicester but he handled the track well. The drop back wasn’t a concern.
“He got on the front and he was very comfortable up there. I liked his performance as he saw them all off and handled the track which is key. He is a horse that stays very well.
“Every time something came to him he went again. At the top of the straight, I thought it was going to Frankie (that I had to beat) but he had to fight all the others off after that and he did.
“I thought he handled it well and there are no complaints there. It was the most competitive race he has ever encountered and he had to fight for it, so he has learnt plenty.”
Having sent last year’s winner of the race Wirko to the Group Three Chester Vase Stakes, triumphant trainer Appleby confirmed that all roads will now lead back to Epsom Downs on Saturday June 4 for Nahanni.
Appleby, speaking away from the track, said: “I’m pleased with that effort today. We were very much having a feel of where we were with this horse.
“We know he gets the trip as he has won his last two starts over a mile and a half prior to today and he has ticked those boxes.
“He has now ticked the box of handling the track so the likelihood is we will now probably head straight to the Derby with him.”
Davies strikes with Mokaatil
Rising star of the weighing room Harry Davies admitted tasting victory on his first ride at Epsom Downs was a “great experience” after steering last year’s “Dash” winner Mokaatil to glory in the Indigenous Handicap (5f), the opening contest of today’s Spring Meeting.
Without a win to his name since scoring at Musselburgh last August, the Ian Williams-trained seven year old took advantage of a slide in the weights to make his return to the scene of his most valuable victory a triumphant one.
Sitting off a blistering pace, which for much of the contest was set out by Just That Lord, the 6/1 chance burst through inside the final furlong under the promising seven pound claimer before defeating Thegreatestshowman by a length and a half.
Davies said: “It is quite exciting riding at Epsom over five furlongs. It is probably the fastest five furlongs in the country.
“I thought this horse had a real nice fighting chance today. He is a Dash winner, so I knew he wasn’t lacking any speed.
“I thought throughout the race they were going pretty quick earlier and he found himself a little bit off his toes there.
“He is very genuine and a pleasure to ride. I’m just happy to have got the job done.
“Mr Williams is pretty straightforward. He told me to speak to David Egan who has ridden him a few times and just said try and take a lead into the race and stick to that rail as much as you can as the camber can take them away from you a bit.
“It is a great experience to ride a winner at Epsom and I’m pleased to have got it done.”
