Richard Quinn's champion jockey aspirations received a boost at Warwick this afternoon - thanks to the non-appearance of arch rival Kieren Fallon.
Quinn, who will be Henry Cecil's stable jockey this season, was handed a 65-1 double following wins for Lancer and Strat's Quest, after advertised jockey Fallon cried off the meeting with a bout of 'flu.
"That Kieren Fallon is a real gentleman as it's nice of him not to be here and let me ride a double.
"I think I could do with him doing that more often," conceded Quinn with his tongue firmly in cheek.
Lancer overhauled Legal Lunch in the mud over a furlong out in the Tote Bookmakers Showcase Handicap to collect by a length.
Winning trainer Jeff Pearce said: "The last time Richard rode for me it was a winner on Children's Choice at Brighton last summer and I'd like to book him more often as he's very, very good.
Strat's Quest had found conditions in his favour and made no mistake under Quinn to easily see off Agent Mulder in the Leek Wooton Claiming Stakes.
The victory proved the first on turf for trainer David Arbuthnot who recently took over the reins at one of Mick Channon's old yards at Upper Lambourn, after moving from Compton.
"The ground makes all the difference to him as he must have it soft. I ran him in a race worse than this at Leicester the other day but it was just too fast for him," declared Arbuthnot of the winner.
Barry Hills's Bedara took the e-mail warwickatrht.net Maiden Fillies Stakes despite drifting alarmingly in the betting from 4-9 to 11-10 favourite. She eventually had a couple of lengths to spare from Sioned Lyn.
Shoeshine Boy made racing experience tell in the hands of Pat Eddery to take the www.warwickracecourse.co.uk. Maiden Auction Stakes by three quarters of a length over Franica after leading over a furlong out.
Trainer Brian Meehan said of the Brocklesby Stakes runner up: "He's done it fine and Pat said he was a professional two-year-old and will look at races like the Garter Stakes at Ascot later this month."
Chepstow trainer Milton Bradley saddled his seventh winner of the term after Blackpool Mamma's, ridden by Royston Ffrench, took the Kingsbury Classified Stakes from Distant Guest.
The former Jack Berry-trained filly was always up with the pace before leading over four furlongs out and Bradley admitted: "I was a bit worried she might not get the trip in the wet ground but it seems she does not mind."
Brian Meehan, on the mark earlier with Shoeshine Boy, made it a double when Mister Rambo gained a hard-earned win under Richard Hughes in the concluding Leamington Spa Handicap.
