Master repeats the dose

The David Elsworth-trained Master The World (7g Mastercraftsman-Zadalla, by Zaha) repeated last year's success in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday.

The son of Mastercraftsman beat Big Country and Addeybb by a neck and three-quarters of a length in a thrilling finish to the 10-furlong polytrack event, earning a free and automatic place in the £200,000 Easter Classic over the same course and distance on Good Friday, April 19.

Master The World, who was bred by A Hanahoe, was also awarded this year’s G3 Winter Derby at Lingfield (pictured).

Elsworth said: "Master The World is a good old boy and he likes it around here. Sean (Levey) gets on with him very well and they communicate. He will have a bit of a break now until the spring and then he may have a prep race, or else he might come straight back for the Winter Derby.

"I know he was awarded that race last winter, but it would have been an injustice if he hadn't as he was flying when he really did get impeded. Sometimes those decisions are marginal, but not that one.

"He likes this surface, but he's not a slouch and also won that big handicap on turf at Goodwood (the 2017 Golden Mile Heritage Handicap)."