Storming Home claims King Edward

Storming Home paid Vodafone Derby winner Galileo a handsome compliment at Royal Ascot today.

Beaten around six lengths when fifth in the premier Classic at Epsom a fortnight ago, he advertised the value of that form with a very smooth victory in the King Edward VII Stakes.

The Machiavellian colt was always going well under Michael Hills, hitting the front a furlong out and landing the Group Two event by a length and a quarter from Snowstorm.

Trainer Barry Hills admitted that he had been worried about running the three-year-old so quickly after his Epsom exertions.

'You never know if they have got over the race but he has overcome that,' he said. 'Michael felt he ought to have been placed in the Derby as he didn`t have the best of runs and if they had gone faster in the Derby he would have finished closer - but the winner would have won easier.'

Hills is unsure about aiming the colt at a rematch with Galileo in next month`s Irish Derby, which is a target for stablemate Mr Combustible, who was fourth at Epsom.

'He could run in the King George or he could go to Goodwood and then go to the Arc,' he said. 'This was the first time he has raced properly. He is not an easy ride - he never has been - but he is growing up.'

Henry Cecil at last got off the mark for the week with his 69th Royal Ascot winner, but it was 12-1 outsider Sandmason rather than uneasy 2-1 favourite Wellbeing who landed the spoils in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes.

Despite this victory for Warren Place, Cecil conceded it had been a frustrating week for him.

'When the horses are working well you think you are in with a chance,' he said. 'I thought we had a chance of three winners on Tuesday but they all fell flat in the final furlong and a half.'

The trainer emphasised that Sandmason was not put in as a pacemaker to Wellbeing.

'He was running very much in his own right,' he added. 'The tactics were right but I did think the other one would run through. However, it is nice to have a winner.'