Richard Hannon jnr firmly believes Paco Boy will be hard to beat this season after he started the campaign in effortless style by sweeping away the opposition in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown.
Last year's winner of the Group Two event progressed to score in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but was roughed off after his mid-summer Sussex Stakes second in preparation for his five-year-old campaign.
The 11-10 favourite looked a cut above in the parade ring before the field headed to post and he cruised into contention on the outside under Richard Hughes.
After snatching the lead passing the furlong marker, Hughes was little more than an onlooker as his willing partner stretched over three lengths clear of international campaigner Pressing.
Hannon jnr, son and assistant to his father Richard, said: 'I just spoke to Dad on the phone and he agreed with me that the horse is definitely better this year.
'He will go to the Lockinge now and I wish that race had been today as he was so well. He's been gasping for a race for the last six to eight weeks and he kicked two windows out of his box as he's so fresh.
'I think he will struggle to find one to beat him after today.
'After the Lockinge there are races like the Queen Anne and the Jacques le Marios and connections are looking at all sorts of races in all sorts of places.'
The colours of Ballymacoll Stud were successful in the Bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes for the second year running as Glass Harmonium followed up stablemate Tartan Bearer's 2009 win under Ryan Moore.
Another to strike at Royal Ascot, the Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old made giant strides under the champion jockey - who was sporting a black eye after being hit by a piece of turf in the previous race - and the 11-1 chance displayed plenty of heart to hold the determined Redwood by a head.
Stoute said: 'He was a little bit behind schedule in early March so he will have needed the run and there may be more than normal progress from this.
'He's a horse we've always liked and I hope he can really go on and progress.
'He will stay a mile and a half but we won't go down that route at the moment and the Tattersalls Gold Cup is a race that springs to mind.'
Luca Cumani had jetted off to saddle Presvis in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup in Hong Kong and missed his Mabait making it four wins on the bounce in the hands of Kieren Fallon in the Poker At bet365.com Handicap.
Cumani's son, Matt, said: 'This was a sighter to see how he had come on and he has obviously come on a lot.
'It looks like he will get further but a mile will be fine for him for now.'
Adam Kirby ensured the Flat riders were not beaten at their own game by lifting the Casino At bet365.com Flat v Jump Jockeys Handicap.
The annual clash between the stars of each code is always the subject of plenty of weighing room banter but Kirby had the right ammunition on his side in Halsion Chancer (8-1), a workmate of John Best's 2000 Guineas hope Inler.
Best's assistant Martin Smith said: 'It's a bit of a boost for Inler - the horse has worked with him two or three times.
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