Orion’s Belt stars in Newmarket opener for Richard Hannon

Orion’s Belt got punters off to a a flying start on July Cup day at Newmarket with a runaway success in the opening Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

A narrowly-beaten fourth as an odds-on favourite for her debut at Salisbury four weeks ago, Richard Hannon’s charge was a well-backed 15-8 market leader to open her account at the second time of asking.

Her supporters will have had few concerns, with Orion’s Belt sent straight to the lead by Ryan Moore and she was three and three-quarter lengths clear of the chasing pack at the line.

Hannon’s senior head lad, Tony Gorman, said: “She’s a very nice filly and that was exactly what we thought earlier on in the year.

“She was stepping up in trip today, but I think even at six (furlongs) she would have won because she was always in a lovely place.

“Once ours have had a run they know their jobs and she’s loads of options. She’s a big filly so we’ll give her a bit of time and she’s by a proper sire (Starman).”

Royal Velvet (4-1) swooped fast and late to land the Trustatrader 20th Anniversary Fillies’ Handicap under a typically well-timed ride from William Buick.

Winning trainer William Knight said: “Having Will Buick on board always helps and he gave her a great ride there. He doesn’t know the filly and he just let her go through the gears.

“I was quite happy with where she was, seven (furlongs) is fast enough for her but she came good at the end.

“At some point in the future we might get some black type with her.”

Fifth Column came out on top in a Godolphin-dominated finish to the bet365 Mile Handicap, with John and Thady Gosden’s 4-1 shot outpointing Charlie Appleby’s 7-4 favourite Bedouin Prince by a neck, with Ryan Moore the winning rider.

John Gosden said: “The plan was there to get there as late as possible and he got there and did it nicely. I’m very happy with him.

“I’ve already been told by bet365 we have to go for the Cambridgeshire, but being a three-year-old we’ve got to get the weights up a bit.

“He won the race on his side in the Britannia (at Royal Ascot) and it’s nice to win here with him.”

Oisin Murphy steered Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Claymore to victory in the Trustatrader Handicap – his first win since his drink-driving conviction last week.

Murphy, who was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months having pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol, had two and quarter lengths in hand at the line aboard the 7-2 shot.