´Real Deal´ Salford Enters Derby Picture

David Elsworth was struggling to conceal his enthusiasm after Salford Mill put down a significant Vodafone Derby marker in an interesting trial for the StansPoker.co.uk Newmarket Stakes.

There were several other well-touted contenders in the 10-furlong Listed race but none could match the extra gear shown by the 2-1 shot in the closing stages.

Part of a big-race double on the Guineas undercard for Kerrin McEvoy, the crack Australian pilot took his time at the back of the field, bringing his mount wide in the closing stages, and while 5-4 favourite Acapulco still had every chance, Salford Mill stretched away and was good value for his length and a quarter victory.

Quotes for Epsom ranged from a conservative 12-1 from Coral and Stan James to a more generous 20-1 from Ladbrokes and Blue Square.

'At this stage you don´t get too excited but this is a proper horse, the real deal as they say. They improve so rapidly at this time of year,' beamed Elsworth.

Salford Mill started off on the all-weather and was narrowly beaten in the Feilden Stakes at the last meeting.

The now locally-based trainer added: 'That was just his fourth race today and the best thing was that they went a good even gallop and he got his rhythm.

'The last time he ran I thought about going to York, which is around 13 days before the Derby. I then thought we´d give him a run here and we´ll wait for the feedback as to whether to give him another run before Epsom.'

Acapulco´s rider Christophe Soumillon was banned for two days (May 16-17) for allowing his mount to drift left.

Earlier, McEvoy appeared to maintain an unshakeable belief in Sir Michael Stoute´s 8-11 favourite Echelon, who took the Group Three StanJamesUK.com Dahlia Stakes in quite pleasing style despite her winning margin of a neck.

After negotiating a few traffic problems, there was a reasonable response when McEvoy applied the pressure over a furlong out, although the doughty Topatoo gave her a scare.

Stan Moore was left cursing his luck with Dont Dili Dali, who was repeatedly denied racing room before flashing home at the death for third.

The older distaff events are surely on Echelon´s agenda now and Chris Richardson, representing owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: 'She´s very progressive like her sister Chic. The trip and ground suited her well. She got into trouble but was good enough to get out of it.

'She´ll come on for the run and we will consider the Windsor Forest at the Royal meeting now.'

Topatoo clearly made the graduation from handicapper to Pattern class, with trainer Mark Tompkins nominating the Middleton Stakes at York as the next outing for the Knavesmire specialist.

Another option awaits Dont Dili Dali, with Moore considering the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on May 16.

There was another hard luck story in the StanJamesUK.com Handicap, where Aqmaar found the post arriving just in time.

Richard Hills positioned the John Dunlop-trained Aqmaar (11-2) nicely off the pacesetter Zafonical Storm, asking him for an effort when joining the lead with two furlongs to run.

Paul Hanagan had far less fortune on 7-4 favourite We´ll Come, finding his path blocked and when he finally saw a gap, he rapidly shrank the margin to half a length at the finish.

Worse was to follow for Hanagan, whose metaphorical cat will get a kicking after he was handed careless riding bans totalling five days (May 16-18, 20-21).

'He ran very well at Newbury over seven and Richard thought he´d be even better over another furlong,' said Dunlop.

'He loves fast going and this would be his level. We may look at the Britannia as a possible target.'

The Arundel maestro later landed a sizeable gamble as Wannabe Posh (9-2) and Eddie Ahern squeezed up the rails to deprive Nakheel in the Stan James Telebetting Handicap.

A possible trip to Baden-Baden in a couple of weeks to grab some black type was mentioned in dispatches.

After also hitting the mark at Goodwood, Eve Johnson Houghton doubled her seasonal total from two to four and collected her biggest victory since taking over from father Fulke in February in the six-furlong StanJamesUK.com Stakes.

Any number had chances in the closing stages of the cavalry charge but it was 20-1 shot Beaver Patrol who finished best, getting up by three-quarters of a length.

'I´m stunned by the whole thing,' said Johnson Houghton. 'I said to Mick Kinane ´just make sure he knows he´s had a race and I´ll leave the rest up to you because you´re a top jockey.'

Mark Johnson saddled a one-two in the Stan James Handicap, but it was outsider of the pair Hearthstead Maison (9-1) and Greg Fairley who overthrew strongly-backed 2-1 favourite Boscobel by a head.

(C) PA Sport