Irish-based Eddie Ahern made his first visit to Lingfield a winning one when taking the opener on Compton Aviator, trained by Gerard Butler.
The 5-1 chance took it up over a furlong out in the first division of the WH Smith Group plc Claiming Stakes and held on by a short head from My Emily, with Annie Apple three-and-a-half lengths further back in third.
Compton Aviator had been tailed off in a two-mile race at Ascot last time out but the switch to the all-weather and seven furlongs paid off.
