IF Mark Johnston’s sixth Princess of Wales’s Stakes win was impressive, then Richard Hannon deserves praise for getting his name on the July Stakes roll of honour for the ninth time, even if six of those wins – stretching back to Rock City’s triumph in 1989 – are credited to Hannon senior.

This time it was 15/2 chance Lusail (a son of Hannon’s 2016 hero Mehmas) who upheld the family tradition with success in the Group 2 event.

The winner is from the family of Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Fayr Jag, but he had already proven his stamina for seven furlongs with a win here last month, and connections appear to have plenty of options with him.

Lusail came out on top under Pat Dobbs in a pulsating finish, rallying to get the better of a three-way tussle with Asymmetric (Alan King/Martin Harley) and Sam Maximus (Tom Dascombe/PJ McDonald), with a head separating the first two, and the same distance between the runner-up and the third.

The field raced near the stands rail in the early stages, but the front three all ended up coming wide in the last furlong, and it seemed an advantage to be drawn high as a result, with the first five home occupying the five highest stalls positions.

That is almost certainly enough to forgive the poor effort of favourite Project Dante, who raced prominently on the rail along with Dig Two, that pair ending up occupying the last two places.

Richard Hannon said: “I thought Lusail deserved to win – he ran around a bit going to the line, but it was a big shout going back to six furlongs and he’s done it very well. I think we’ll take him to Goodwood, that’s a certainty, but whether we’ll go over six (Richmond Stakes) or seven (Select Stakes) we’ll see.”

“He wasn’t really high up in our pecking order at home to be honest. He’s worked okay and we took him to York, and he went there and won. We can go further with him yet and just like his sire, Mehmas, he’s extremely honest and very chilled out, but he will get further, and I don’t think he’s just a two-year-old.”

Yibir on best behaviour

Yibir (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) is a very talented three-year-old, but having pushed Alenquer and Adayar hard in the Sandown Classic Trial, he’s blotted his copybook by hanging badly on his next two starts, prompting an appointment with the vet for the unkindest cut of all.

Freshly reinvented as a gelding, the son of Dubawi looked a reformed character (but please, don’t try this at home). Backed into favouritism at 6/4, Yibir travelled strongly, and found plenty when asked to go and win the race.

At the line, he was two and a half lengths to the good over Mandoob (Brian Meehan/Jim Crowley) with the freely sweating Dancing King (Mark Johnston/ beaten a total of five and a half lengths in third.

The collateral form of Yibir’s earlier defeats reads well – he was ahead of Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle at Sandown and then second to him in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood despite looking wayward, and if he continues to go the right way temperamentally, then he has a bigger prize than this in him, with a mile and three-quarters sure to suit.

It won’t be the St Leger, obviously, but there are plenty of other races open to geldings, and we don’t have the worry of him being packed off to stud at the end of the season.

Mandoob ran well given his lack of experience, with this just his third run, and a big step up from a pair of wins in novice company. He is by Farhh out of an unraced mare from a family which did well for Peter Harris, including the smart stayer Barolo.

Mandoob is sure to progress again, and has an entry in the Lonsdale Cup at York next month.

Baaeed a new star

The Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes was won by an easy four lengths by 10/11 favourite Baaeed (William Haggas/Jim Crowley), who was maintaining his unbeaten record after wins in maiden and novice company.

The son of Sea The Stars is a full-brother to Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner (and Hardwicke third) Hukum, but all his wins have come over a mile, and despite missing the break here, he cruised through the contest to slam Maximal as easily as Poetic Flare had in the St James’s Palace Stakes, and does not look in need of further at this stage.

He’s clearly much better than a listed performer, and although there are no firm plans for him, his trainer said he “wouldn’t miss a good entry”, and he’s capable of making a big splash at the highest level on this evidence, particularly bearing in mind he only made his debut at Leicester in June.