New Providence bounces back to form at York Racecourse

Trainer Hugo Palmer remains bewildered by that uncharacteristic display in the Commonwealth Cup and was delighted to see her return to her best on the Knavesmire.

The Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood could be next for New Providence, followed by the Grade Two $400,000 Ballston Spa for fillies and mares on turf at Saratoga on August 29.

Harry Bentley brought the New Providence (5-1) through to lead a furlong out, but she had to fight close home to hold Lucky Kristale by a head with Kiyoshi three-quarters of a length away in third.

"She deserved that so much. The Group 1 at Royal Ascot was the only time she's been out of the first three in her life. She's won four and been second three times and third three times," said Palmer.

"She's as honest as the day's long and loves a battle. She probably idled a tiny bit in front and when Lucky Kristale came to her girths she found a bit more. She doesn't lie down.

"I don't know why she ran so badly at Ascot. That was not her true running. When they've always run brilliantly and they run badly and you go to well again quickly you wonder, but everything was fine and there was no reason not to.

"We'll go from here all being well for the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood and then we might think of trying a mile in America.

"There's a race at the end of August over a mile in Saratoga. She's just lost her Group Three penalty and now she's got it back again.

"With fillies like her I think we've an advantage over theirs."

Bentley completed a double on Wadi Al Hattawi (9-1), who defied top weight in the Groeceryaid Chairman's Charity Cup Handicap.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained five-year-old overcame a 321-day absence as he got the better of Curbyourenthusiasm by a neck.

Bentley said: "He was a little bit lazy, but they went a good enough gallop and turning for home all of a sudden he came good on the bridle for me.

"If anything I put him there a bit too soon, but the gaps opened perfectly and he stuck his head out very gamely."

Wadi Al Hattawi was cut to 20-1 from 33-1 with the sponsors for the Betfred Ebor back at York next month.

Lydia's Place (5-2 favourite) hung on for a narrow victory in the Electrolux Appliance Nursery despite the saddling slipping halfway through the race.

Apprentice Rob Hornby showed why he is top value for his 5lb claim by keeping his cool on the Richard Guest-trained filly as she drifted over to the stands rail and land the spoils by a head and a neck from Fashionable Spirit and Majestic Bond.

Hornby said: "The saddle went two furlongs out when I tried to fill her up and it's gone up her neck. As I let her down it came down into an all right position and pulling up it's gone again.

"She's a very nice horse. I don't think I've been on a horse that fast. With the bigger occasion and the crowd she's hung across the track."

Ajaya (4-9 favourite) easily won the Cakemark EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes as expected following his eye-catching run in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The William Haggas-trained youngster made most of the running under Graham Gibbson and passed the post four and a half lengths clear of To Of The Bank.

"He had the form in the book and he's done it nicely," said Gibbons.

Kimberella (7-1) came out on top by three-quarters of a length from Adam's Ale in a driving finish for the Acturis Handicap for the father and son team of Dandy and Adrian Nicholls.

"He's been running well and been consistent all year. The bit of rain we've had helped him," said Nicholls' wife, former jockey Alex Greaves.

Amy Ryan, who steered Bogart into third place, was banned for two days (July 24 and 26) for using her whip above the permitted level.

The Tom Queally-partnered Barreesh (5-1) was successful in his first handicap with a cosy three-quarters of a length verdict over Primogeniture in the Jigsaw Sports Branding Stakes for trainer Richard Hannon, who also had afternoon winners at Newmarket and Ascot.