Golden oldies Pettochside and Oh This Is Us roll back the years

It was a day for the veterans with seven-year-old Stradivarius setting the scene before eight-year-old Oh This Is Us landed the Listed Paradise Stakes and 12-year-old Pettochside stormed home in the 5f handicap.

Even more remarkable for Pettochside was that his win came after a 191-day absence and caught his 79-year-old trainer John Bridger by surprise.

"I thought he'd need it," said Bridger. "He's been off a while and had got a bit big, but he's a lovely horse. I turn him out a lot and feed him well and it seems to keep him happy.

"He's a lovely, big, strong horse and I'm over the moon with him, especially at his age. We were a bit worried about the ground but the rain just got in enough. I'm delighted."

Tom Marquand: 'He was the first good horse I bumped into'Credit: Pool

The winner, a veteran of 102 races, has struck up a fine rapport with 7lb claimer Saffie Osborne, who was taking her record to three wins from three rides on the sprinter.

Oh This Is Us has been a remarkable horse for owners Team Wallop and took his career earnings sailing through the £650,000 mark with a 15th victory on his 70th start at 66-1.

"He was the first good horse I bumped into," said winning rider Tom Marquand. "He won a £100,000 handicap at Goodwood when I was a 3lb claimer and nearly every year since I've managed to pinch a big one on him. He's been an incredible horse and a great flagship for the Richard Hannon yard."

Chipotle too hot to handle

Chipotle is fast becoming Eve Johnson Houghton's favourite horse and the two-year-old enhanced his reputation by ending a frustrating winless run stretching back to the opening day of the turf season for his trainer with victory in the 5f conditions stakes.

Eve Johnson Houghton: 'Unable to win an argument in an empty room'Credit: Edward Whitaker

It was Chipotle himself, successful in the Brocklesby Stakes on March 27, who had last given Johnson Houghton a winner, and he maintained his unbeaten record with a one-length victory over 11-10 favourite The Gatekeeper.

"I've been unable to win an argument in an empty room and I'm pretty good at arguing, so it's not been great," said the trainer. "It's a great relief to get a winner and this will put a smile on everyone's face.

"I don't know how good the second is, but he's done what he's had to do and that's all you can ask. I think he'll get six furlongs but is sharp enough to stay at five."

Asked if he would be back at Ascot for the royal meeting in June, Johnson Houghton added: "We'll look at the Windsor Castle, but he's in the Super Sprint at Newbury and would have a very low weight, so that's probably our mid-term target."

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