The five-year-old brown gelding led from virtually start to finish and held off a challenge down the straight from Pipers Challenge (Tom Ison) for a 2.2m win and his first since April.

“The last time was his first preparation,” Neal said.

“He won two and had a few placings.”

Monday was his sixth start back this preparation.

“He’s taken a few races to come up,” Neal said.

“He had a bit of weight to work off but has been getting better with each run.

“His last three runs he’s picked up a cheque,” he said.

“He’s been third, fourth, second and now won.”

The second was at Newcastle and he was right up there.

“If he’d have stayed on the fence he would have won,” Neal said.

He thought he’d be a good chance on Monday, especially after the gate draw.

“That’s the best draw he’s had for a while,” he said.

Wellington said the race pretty much went to plan.

“With the scratching on the inside (Harlow Franco), we came in one spot,” he said.

“Ronnie said we’ll try to lead.” 

He and Chantilly Grace (Danny Mackney) were the best away and pretty quickly found the front.

“He really came out quite quickly,” Wellington said.

“He really relaxed and travelled really nice.”

If Neal has one complaint, it is that he sometimes relaxes too much.

Wellington said with about a lap to go he started to pick up the pace.

“I knew we’d got away with some easy sections there,” he said.

“I let him roll on with about a lap to go.”

He could feel them coming at him in the final straight but wasn’t too worried.

“He was travelling pretty good,” he said.

“I think if they might have got closer he would have kicked again.”

Neal was undecided about where to next.

He might start him in the next Tamworth meeting or maybe take him to Newcastle again.

The Muse (Craig Glegg) was third, another 3.3m back.