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Twice Over returned to his brilliant best with victory in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

Henry Cecil's four-year-old was runner-up in the race 12 months ago but there was no New Approach in the field on this occasion and Tom Queally drove his mount out for a gritty half-length victory from Mawatheeq.

Twice Over looked to be regressing earlier in the season, but two wins at a lesser level teed him up for a return to Group One level and he did not disappoint at odds of 14/1.

Set Sail forced a fierce gallop before being taken on by stablemate and favourite Fame And Glory with three furlongs to run.

Twice Over travelled smoothly into the race and took the measure of Fame and Glory as the runners went into the dip.

A burst of pace took Twice Over a length clear and although Mawatheeq and Oaks winner Sariska came fast and late, he stuck on well to hand Cecil a third win in the prestigious Group One contest.

"I was worried about the ground today because the softer the better for him, said Cecil.

"It's great for Prince Khalid Abdullah because he has been a great supporter of mine and I want to thank him so much, and Jane my wife, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be here today.

Reflecting on his decision to drop the horse in class earlier in the season, Cecil added: "We all need a confidence boost now and again. It doesn't matter how good they are, they have to enjoy themselves and want to do it."

Darley Sun scored for favourite backers with victory in the Cesarewitch.

David Simcock's three-year-old looked extremely well weighted on his running in the Doncaster Cup and it proved the case as the 9/2 favourite ran away with the race under Andrea Atzeni.

Beethoven caused a huge shock when leading home a one-two for Aidan O'Brien in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes.

Ryan Moore brought the son of Oratorio with a sustained run from the middle of the field and he stuck on well to deny stablemate Fencing Master by a neck.

Johnny Murtagh tried to make all on Steinbeck and beat off a host of challengers on the rail, but had no answer when Beethoven, Fencing Master and Xtension came fast and late on the wide outside.

Beethoven looked exposed coming into the race, but O'Brien felt his charge was on the upgrade.

He's progressing all the time and had been getting better with every run, said O'Brien.

"My son Joseph rode him the other day and said there was plenty in there and to put a visor on him to maybe sharpen him up a little bit, so that's what we did. The first and second have been getting better and better.

"I was delighted with Steinbeck. Johnny (Murtagh) said in an ideal world he would have liked to have a lead and jump him in. He said he couldn't take him back out and he got a bit tired in the end."

Murtagh had better luck in the opener, as he steered the Jeremy Noseda-trained Arabian Gleam to victory in the Group Two Challenge Stakes.

The Irishman had his mount well placed from the off and although Ouqba came with a late run, Arabian Gleam held on by a neck.

Alex Livie / Eurosport