RIBCHESTER, making it third time lucky, lost his maiden tag in emphatic style with a last-to-first success in the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday, earning quotes of 25/1 for next year's Classic, the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (1m, April 30), in the process.

The Richard Fahey-trained colt, the 13/8 favourite, travelled well under James Doyle before quickening strongly to beat front-running 9/2 chance Log Out Island, trained by Richard Hannon, comfortably by a length and a quarter as Godolphin enjoyed a 1-2 in the six-furlong contest.

Fahey, who also saddled the winners of the Gold and Silver Cups at Ayr on a superb day for the Yorkshire-based handler, commented: "I think that Ribchester is on the way to being a nice horse.

"You can imagine how shocked I was when he was beaten at Doncaster on debut - we thought that he would win there - but he is a big baby and it's amazing how a race can bring horses on.

"It was a brave shout to run him in the Gimcrack Stakes but his second verified where we thought the horse was. Today has just confirmed it.

"He is not a horse that will have a lot more racing this year. He is a big frame of a horse and a big baby, so we will get him home and make a decision from there.

"If I have a horse for the 2,000 Guineas, it is definitely him. He is a good quality horse who will get better with time and anything he does this year is a bonus."

James Doyle added: "Richard told me he liked the horse and that I should settle him in and pick him up late on. It was a professional performance. He ran around a little bit at York but it was only his second run and he was much wiser today.

"When I picked him up, he ran straight to the line and pricked his ears - I moved him up earlier than ideal because I was just worried that he might get stuck in this ground a little bit.

"He actually surprised me because he coped with the ground quite well. I have definitely picked him up too soon because he pricked his ears in the last half-furlong and wasn't doing a tap.

"It was a nice performance. He's a big, raw type with plenty of scope and I would imagine that he will be much better next year. He is one I am looking forward to."

The Corsican booked his place in the Group One Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 17 with a smooth victory over Godolphin's Sky Hunter and odds-on favourite Eagle Top in the 11-furlong Group Three Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup (1.45pm).