Liberty Lane surges to Cambridgeshire Handicap win

Liberty Lane surged to a decisive victory in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket on Saturday.

Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the bay started at 8-1 in a field of 31 for the valuable nine-furlong contest.

He stuck with the group on the outer rail and gained ground continually to come home two and a half lengths ahead of James McHenry, with Toimy Son third.

It capped a memorable week for Burke, who saddled the first three home in last Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup, with Lee winning on Lethal Levi.

Burke said: "I think I'd have been happier if he'd had a lead for longer, but Cliff said he was going so well he was happy to kick on.

"He's always been a very good horse and he's just getting his act together now."

The race also featured Brighton footballer Georginio Rutter's horse Bopedro and started half an hour after the Frenchman scored his first Premier League goal, yet the 14-1 shot came home in 10th.

Earlier, Lake Victoria maintained her flawless record with a comfortable win in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

After winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs earlier this month, she was the 6-4 favourite and Ryan Moore led her clear in the final furlong.

She beat Daylight by three lengths, with Arabian Dusk third and the previously unbeaten Babouche a disappointing fourth.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "For a Frankel filly, she was very impressive over six furlongs. We always had this race in mind, even before she won the Moyglare.

"We wouldn't be afraid of stepping up to a mile, to come back here for the Fillies' Mile. That's what Ryan said. We'll see."

In the day's other Group One race at Newmarket, Shadow Of Light made short work of his rivals in the Middle Park Stakes, beating 4-5 favourite Whistlejacket by four lengths while Dash Dizzy was third.

After two straight wins, Godolphin's 11-4 chance was second in the Gimcrack at York last month but got back to winning ways, with William Buick easing him into the lead two furlongs from home.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "Mentally, he jumped forward so much from that run [the Gimcrack] and we came here quietly confident.

"When the ground started drying out, we felt it suited us more than the favourite."