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ACE OF NEWMARKET

Mark Johnston’s Cardsharp won the Arqana July Stakes at Newmarket racecourse

Mark Johnston's colt stayed on strongly to win the juvenile Group 2 event as the gamble on Invincible Army went astray as he could only manage fourth place

Cardsharp

MARK JOHNSTON's Cardsharp claimed top honours in the Group 2 Arqana July Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

James Tate's Invincible Army was a well-backed 3-1 favourite, marginally ahead of Richard Spencer's Coventry Stakes hero Rajasinghe (100-30) in the betting.

Invincible Army was always towards the front end along with the Aidan O'Brien-trained U S Navy Flag, but neither could fend off the charge of 8-1 shot Cardsharp down the centre of the track.

Cardsharp
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Cardsharp comes home late to winCredit: PA

Rajasinghe was under pressure from the halfway stage, but boxed on well and beat Invincible Army to third place.

Doyle said: "He showed his well-being before the race. He was a bit of a handful.

"I rode him in the Norfolk at Ascot and he ran a hell of a race. The American horse there on the lead kept edging left and bumped him a bit.

"It took a while to get him organised and he finished really well. I just thought back up to six would be ideal and he's shown that."

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