Dick Turpin made an impressive return to action when running all over his rivals in the bet365 Mile at Sandown.
Giving trainer Richard Hannon a sixth win in the last eight runnings of this Group Two contest, the four-year-old was barely asked a question to land the spoils under Richard Hughes.
Andrew Balding's Highland Knight set a sensible pace for his stablemate Dream Eater, with Music Show handy and Dick Turpin tucked away just behind the leaders in a five-runner heat.
After momentarily being stuck in a pocket, Dick Turpin burst through a timely gap and saw off the brief threat of Cityscape to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Hannon said: ‘He's a very good horse and we have left a bit behind as this was just a stepping stone really.
‘He'll go from here to the Lockinge but I've got Canford Cliffs as well and I don't want them to clash. It's difficult as there aren't that many races to run them.
‘They both worked at Newbury the other day and both worked very well.
‘I know both horses have improved from last year. I really don't want them to do battle together but they will probably both turn up at Newbury.
‘I would love to go a mile and quarter with him at some point so we can look at the prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot, but that said I'd like Canford Cliffs to try that trip as well.
‘I'm lucky to have two of the best milers around and I'd love to keep them separate.’
