Oscar shines on Ecclesiastical

Jockey Oscar Urbina gained the most valuable success of his career when bringing Ecclesiastical home an impressive winner of the stg£60,000 Tote Credit Club Silver Bowl (Showcase Handicap) at Haydock Park today.

Urbina was always looking supremely confident on the James Fanshawe-trained colt, and eased into the lead a furlong from home, Ecclesiastical drew away to beat Lord Protector by two lengths with Gilded Dancer a length away in third.

The winner carries the colours of Cheveley Park Stud, and he could now be heading for Royal Ascot next month when Fanshawe has a couple of options for the Bishop of Cashel colt.

He said: 'He has always shown ability and we will have to see what we will do with him now. The two races he could run in at Royal Ascot, the Britannia Stakes and the Jersey Stakes, have not closed yet and everything depends on what the handicapper does with him.'

Urbina said: 'I have won the Gold Cup and other big races back home in Spain and I have riddenListed-race winners but I think this is my biggest win as far as prize money is concerned.

'He is a very good horse and he gives you that confidence that he will get you out of trouble if necessary. It would be nice if I could stick with him for the rest of the season - and if you had three like him to ride you would be all right!'

Mark Tompkins predicted a bright future for Volata, who ran a creditable race in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, after watching him gain his second success in four outings under Ted Durcan in the Weatherbys General Stud Book Vol 44 Rated Stakes.

Joe Fanning rode his first winner for Nick Littmoden when the 33-1 chance Coastal Bluff silenced punters when beating the heavily backed Mitcham by a head with Guinea Hunter a neck away in third in the Be Friendly Handicap.

To The Woods (13-2) completed a 254-1 double for Littmoden when taking the EBF Maiden Fillies` Stakes under Craig Williams.