'He'll come on leaps and bounds' - Azizam another Royal Ascot possible after boosting Karl Burke's red-hot juvenile record

Azizam scoots clear of his rivals to make a winning debutCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Karl Burke's remarkable record with two-year-olds this year continued with an impressive debut victory for Azizam in the 5f maiden.

The Kate McGivern-owned son of Havana Grey was sent off at 9-1 behind odds-on favourite Storm Force but swept his rivals aside with a two-and-a-half-length success that may have set up a tilt at Royal Ascot.

Burke's strike-rate with juveniles in 2025 now stands at a red-hot 36 per cent, with 12 of his 33 runners winning.

Burke's assistant James Cowley told Racing TV: "There was plenty to like about that. Sam [James] said the race didn't go to plan. He did things the wrong way round, was stuck on the wing and ran green, but when he hit the front he soon clued up and away he went.

"He'll come on in leaps and bounds and was learning on the job. There's plenty of improvement to come. He hasn't done anything to really shout 'wow' but you can't knock him. It's the time of year where we're building the Ascot team and it's coming along nicely."

A first for Walker

Ed Walker ticked off another track when King's Scholar became his first winner at Hamilton in the 1m5f handicap.

The Clifford Lee-ridden four-year-old got up by a three-quarters of a length to break the Group 1-winning trainer's course duck at the eighth attempt.

Makin hay

Phillip Makin took his course strike-rate to 23 per cent in the last five years when Impartiality took the 1m½f handicap.

Read these next:

Patience pays off as reappearing Rogue Invader scores for in-form trainer Alice Haynes

Charlie Fellowes eyeing French Classic redemption this weekend with 12-1 chance who 'ran an absolute screamer' last time