JOE Fanning stole all the plaudits at Newmarket last Saturday, executing a fine front-running ride on his 36th birthday to land his first-ever Group One race on the hardy The Last Lion in the Middle Park.

The Mark Johnston-trained colt has been so consistent for his trainer this year, having now finished in the top three on all 10 of his juvenile starts, five of them under Fanning.

The Last Lion stepped back up to six furlongs after finishing second in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster over five furlongs, and the move reaped rewards with Blue Point unable to close the gap in the closing stages.

A delighted Fanning said: "He is a good horse. He has been tough all year. His owner, John Brown, said if he finished fifth he would be delighted with him. His work early on was brilliant in soft ground and he won on soft in the Brocklesby. I thought it might be against him today, but it didn't seem to bother him.

"He is a very laid-back horse and very versatile, very tough.

"I am delighted. It is great. I've ridden about 27 Group Twos and Threes. I needed to get that Group One. In fairness, 2016 has been good to me and I'm getting married in November, so still plenty to look forward to."

Johnston said: "What a fantastic horse. It has been fairy story right from the beginning.

"Many years ago we had Mister Monet in the Champions' Stakes and he broke his leg and didn't make it.

"When I saw this horse at Goffs from the same family, I phoned John Brown and I said, ‘You've got to have this one' – and he did.

"I'm sure this means the world to Joe. It is fantastic for him. He has ridden a huge number of winners for us over the years at all levels.

"He doesn't usually get the opportunity to ride in the Group Ones, but that is the main reason he hasn't had a winner before now. But hopefully he will get a few more before he retires."

Michael Dods is on the hunt for more Group One success this weekend with Coolmore Nunthorpe winner Mecca's Angel.

The horse should be such a hot favourite for Sunday's Prix de l'Abbaye at Chantilly, but Dods does not expect the ground to prove a problem.

Mecca's Angel, who beat Limato impressively by two lengths at York on ground quicker than she was once thought to appreciate, is no bigger than 2-1 for the Abbaye, for which she travels across by train tomorrow morning.

A seasoned traveller who has already won at Longchamp and the Curragh, Mecca's Angel's bid to win last year's Abbaye was thwarted when the ground dried up too much for her to run. Conditions are not expected to be a problem this time.

Dods believes the ground will be fine for Mecca's Angel, who won her second Nunthorpe on ground officially described as good.

The trainer said: "Genuine good ground won't be a problem – I just wouldn't want to see firm in the description. I understand they put 4mm of water on the track on Monday and showers are forecast for Saturday. With the heavy dews we get at this time of year, it shouldn't dry up too much. It won't be like last year, when it was a baking hot day."

He added: "The Nunthorpe has been the main aim for the last two years and we've had her in the best possible condition there, but she seems to be in the same form still and really fresh and well. You just have it in the back of your mind that fillies can go off very quickly at this time of year, but there's no sign of that at home. She looks tremendous and the travelling won't bother her.

"It's never an easy race and there will be plenty of hustle and bustle with some decent horses to beat. I'm not sure she should be such a short price in a race that tough, but she doesn't know what odds she is and we're very happy with her. Paul Mulrennan will have a sit on her on Wednesday morning and that will be it."