Forte Roars home under Murtagh

Roaring Forte's fortunes took a turn for the better with a clear-cut win in the Addleshaw Goddard Stakes at York.

A fancy for the Royal Hunt Cup, he refused to enter the stalls and he was well-beaten at Ascot on his last start.

However, ridden prominently by Johnny Murtagh, he kicked clear with two furlongs to run and the advantage he gained was too big for the others to peg back.

Alazeyab just held off Acrostic for second but they were two lengths behind the 8-1 winner. Webbow was fourth.

After crossing the line the winner swerved, unseating Murtagh, but no harm was done.

Murtagh said: "He won very well there.

"Coming up by the line, he just ducked. I wasn't paying enough attention so he just side-stepped and I fell off."

Maureen Haggas, wife of the winning trainer, said: ''He won at Newmarket quite impressively first time out this season, but he was one of the horses who was taken out of the Hunt Cup at the start.

''He's never any trouble at the stalls normally but there were a few around him playing up and he fell out the back.

''He was a little disappointing last time but when he's right, he's very good.

''We'll have to ask William where next, but the Cambridgeshire might be a furlong too far.''

Murtagh added: ''That's the first time I've ridden him, he is a nice, long-striding sort.

''Willie rings me a few days before a race and you know it normally has a good chance.''

Varian said of the Jarvis-trained runner-up: ''He ran very well.''

When asked about the Cambridgeshire, he added: ''He got his own way when he won over a mile and a quarter at Newmarket, but a mile is probably his best trip when they go a good gallop.

''He keeps galloping and only the winner had his measure, they were at it quite a way out.''

Luca Cumani said of Acrostic: ''He's run a good race. There are various possibilities, including the Cambridgeshire, the trip is not a problem as he finished fourth over nine furlongs here in June.''