Mubtaker was an impressive winner in Saturday's feature race, the Stan James Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

Mubtaker, ridden by Richard Hills and trained by Marcus Tregoning, justified being sent off the 11-8 favourite by holding off the challenge of High Pitched by two lengths in the Group Two event.

A revitalised Persian Punch delighted his many fans by coming third in the 1m 5f contest.

It was a boost for Tregoning's stable ahead of Nayef's attempt to turn the tables on Golan in the Juddmonte International at York on Tuesday.

Breeding potential

"He's obviously got a lot of ability and he is a very versatile horse," said Tregoning of Mubtaker.

"He is in the Irish St Leger but I think he is capable of winning a big race over a mile and a half.

"And from a commercial point of view as a stallion prospect, that may be the option we look for."

Earlier on the card, Reel Buddy led home a one-two for Richard Hannon in the Stan James Hungerford Stakes.

Four lengths behind Rock of Gibraltar in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on his previous outing, Reel Buddy, ridden by Richard Quinn, had looked boxed in three furlongs out.

But a gap opened and the 7-2 shot surged through and held off stablemate Umistim, under Dane O'Neill, by a short head.

Umistim, at 12-1, finished two lengths clear of third-placed Gateman.

"It's a shame one had to get beat but Reel Buddy should have won a couple of Group races before now only for things to go wrong," said Hannon.

Meanwhile, there was a surprise winner of the day's big betting race, the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap at York.

Deceitful, at 20-1, gave trainer David Evans the biggest win of his career when the four-year-old got up on the line to beat Budelli, the heavily supported 4-1 favourite.

It was a battle of the apprentices as 21-year-old Irish jockey Fran Ferris got the better of fellow 5lb claimer Dean Corby.

Another half-length away in third was 14-1 shot Artie, with scarcely three lengths covering the first nine horses home.