Cliffs peaks in Palace stroll

Richard Hannon dominated the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot as Canford Cliffs oozed class to get the better of his stablemate Dick Turpin.

The winner was settled some way off the pace by a confident Richard Hughes, who held on to the 11-4 joint-favourite for as long as possible as Steinbeck led into the turn.

Dick Turpin went for home, but Canford Cliffs quickened up impressively to go past and win by a length, with Pat Eddery's Hearts Of Fire running a massive race in third.

Hughes said: "The most important thing I had to do was to get my horse to settle very early in the race, slip the bridle out and ride him a race.

"I said all week I knew I was on the best horse, but I just needed a bit of luck in running.

"I could afford to give them five lengths riding on a horse like Canford Cliffs, but I could feel a shoe go turning for home and that was a bit of a worry.

"He just might have hit a flat spot and I soon got him going again and he's beaten a very good horse in Dick Turpin too.

"Being on him is like getting into a Rolls Royce instead of a Morris Minor. The difference is unbelievable. You just sit on him and everything is smooth and is electric. He has so much speed and that's his forte."

Hannon added: "He's got better and better and he only had to settle in his races. He has got to go for Group Ones, so I suppose the Sussex Stakes and the Jacques le Marois would be possibilities."