Cecil's Coco looks a hot prospect

Trainer Sir Henry Cecil saw his horse Wild Coco win at Newmarket (Getty Images)

The focus of interest on the domestic front yesterday proved to be upward mobility. At Newmarket, Wild Coco made it two from three with a half-length success in the Newsells Park Stud Stakes. There was much to like about the way the daughter of Shirocco ran down trailblazing Opera Gal and drew 10 lengths clear, taking only Meeznah, who finished second in last year's Oaks, with her.

"That was a good effort," said her trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, "considering it was only the third run of her life." Wild Coco is well enough regarded to have been given an entry in next month's Yorkshire Oaks, but the lesser Galtres Stakes at the same meeting may be her next step.

At Newbury, the Wokingham Handicap winner Deacon Blues comfortably took the step up to Group Three company, cruising up to and then away from Markab inside the final furlong. The Haydock Sprint Cup is a possible target for James Fanshawe's charge but wherever he goes handicaps – including Goodwood's Stewards' Cup for which he was the favourite – are now off the agenda.

Also at Newbury, the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint for juveniles went to the Andrew Balding-trained 25-1 shot Charles The Great, who beat 4-1 joint-favourite Lily's Angel a short head.

The weekend's top contest is today's Irish Oaks, in which Dancing Rain will bid to become the 13th filly to land the Epsom-Curragh double.