LIMATO continued his recent revival as he made his class count in the Ryedale House Garrowby Stakes at York this afternoon.

Having ended a spell in the doldrums with victory in a Listed event at Newmarket last time out, the six-year-old followed up at the same level in the six-furlong feature.

Anchored at the rear of the field, the 4-9 favourite was produced around the outside of his rivals before moving on entering the final furlong with eventual runner up Stormbringer.

Although forced to work hard to get to the front, once there the dual Group One winner finished comfortably on top, crossing the line with two lengths in hand.

Trainer Henry Candy said: "He did it well and I'm very happy. It was 50-50 whether I was going to run him as they had nearly 10 millimetres of rain last night and I could get my stick in a good few inches.

"I watched the two pony races they had and the apprentice race just to see how far they went in and most of it was just OK.

"It was not his ground at all and on that ground, he doesn't pick up like he does on fast ground.

"As soon as Harry Bentley pulled his stick through he pulled a length or two clear. His class told.

"He is just as enthusiastic as ever. He will go where he gets some decent ground now. The first possibility is the Bengough Stakes at Ascot and obviously there is the Foret on Arc day.

"There is also the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket and the Champions Sprint at Ascot, but that is late in the year and I imagine the ground will be completely gone."

Kevin Frost appears to have picked up a bargain in Francis Xavier after he made a triumphant stable debut in the Hanson Springs Handicap.

Purchased for 22,000 guineas out of Hugo Palmer's yard in July, the four-year-old stayed on well to take the 10-furlong prize by a length and three-quarters to give the Staffordshire handler his first winner on the Knavesmire.

He said of the 16-1 winner: "It's always nice to have a winner at a grade one track, so it's a nice one to get on the CV.

"I'm not sure Newmarket suited him at all, but he has thrived being at a small yard.

"His work had been very good and today was about finding out something, and I think we found out plenty.

"He is a horse that is lightly raced as he fractured his pelvis at two and I do think there is more to improvement to come from him."

The Micky Hammond-trained Le Maitre Chat sprang a surprise when defying his 66-1 price tag to gain his first win since 2014 when getting up by a nose in the Little Green Rascals Children's Nurseries Handicap.

Elsewhere, local trainer Michael Easterby was also in the Winners' Enclosure as Ladies First took the opener at 6-1 ahead of Pickett's Charge and Lady in Question over the seven furlong trip.