The cheek of it - Stormbringer wins in unnecessary headgear

Stormbringer, who cost 190,000gns at the breeze-ups and holds a Gimcrack Stakes entry, began to repay the investment in his potential with a first victory in a set of cheekpieces he was never supposed to wear.

The declaration of headgear for the colt's second start was made in error but trainer Kevin Ryan's appeal to the stewards to allow him to run without them fell on deaf ears.

Nevertheless, Stormbringer proved professional enough to perform to market expectations as the 11-10 favourite took the 6f novice race by two lengths under Tom Eaves in the colours of Charles Wentworth, who won the Gimcrack six years ago with Caspar Netscher.