Gallant is Stoute`s hero

Sir Michael Stoute showed his team are in good form ahead of next weekend`s big Epsom meeting by landing the feature race at Doncaster today with Gallant Hero.

His colt had not run since a winning debut at Newmarket six weeks previously, and was a 4-1 chance for the mile-and-a-quarter Rosehill Conditions Stakes behind Godolphin`s unraced Vodafone Derby entry Wadmaan who started evens favourite.

But Stoute, whose Islington is hot favourite for the Vodafone Oaks on Friday, has his string in excellent health and Gallant Hero gave him a 10th win in a fortnight by battling to a length-and-a-half triumph under Jimmy Fortune.

'He is an improving horse and he has a lot of scope,' said the trainer`s travelling head lad Jimmy Scott.

'He will get further and he loves this firmish ground. But I don`t know whether he will be good enough for Royal Ascot.'

No such doubts surround Surbiton, who earned a trip to the Royal meeting by upsetting the big guns in the EBF Zetland Maiden Stakes.

He was third choice in the betting at 4-1 behind Mark Johnston`s well-touted Newcastle second Rahaf and newcomer Amandus, a 375,000 colt from David Loder`s two-year-old academy.

Premier Baron is also heading for the Royal meeting after springing a 25-1 surprise in the `Book Online At doncaster-racecourse.com` Stakes.

He burst clear over a furlong out in the seven-furlong handicap and came home a length-and-a-quarter winner from Stateroom.

'He will now go straight for the Wokingham Handicap,' said trainer Phil McEntee`s assistant Michael Squance.

'That is over only six furlongs but he doesn`t get seven at Ascot _ he has tried it three times and been down the field each time.

'He gets an 8lb penalty but I think he will run very well.'

Winning jockey Gary Carter completed a 142-1 double when 9-2 joint-favourite Surprised took the Merlin Land Rover Classified Stakes.

Palacegate Touch came within inches of making history in the Alfea Rossore `Hands And Heels` Apprentice Handicap.

The grey looked poised to land a record-equalling 34th career win when leading a furlong out and despite drifting left close home he appeared to have done just enough to hang on in a tight finish.

But the photograph revealed he had been beaten a short-head, to the astonishment of trainer Alan Berry, and of Jedd O`Keeffe whose fast-finishing Snow Bunting got the narrow verdict.

'I thought he had won,' Berry said of his 12-year-old, who was having his 193rd start. 'But he has run a good race, his best for a while. I don`t know where he will go next.'

Snow Bunting was a fitting winner for the first race of the Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend as he was bred by The Queen.