Eve Johnson Houghton, who trains at Blewbury, near Didcot, admits to being gutted at having had to scratch The Cheka from the 2,000 Guineas, writes Russell Smith.

She was very sweet on the three-year-old’s chance in the first Classic at Newmarket on Saturday, May 2.

But after the colt, who is jointly owned by comedian Mel Smith, suffered a series of minor niggling injuries, she has ruled him out, and will now hope to get him ready for the Irish 2,000 Guineas or possibly Royal Ascot.

Johnson Houghton said: “It is gutting for everyone in the yard and it has put a real cloud over us, however the good news is we still have a good horse, we just have to be patient.

“It is the first and last ante-post bet I am ever going to have.”

Desire To Excel made the 748-mile round trip from Paul Cole’s Whatcombe stables, near Wantage, to Musselburgh pay off with victory in a seven-furlong maiden.

The three-year-old had been off the track since last June after suffering pulled muscles, but he put his problems behind him by making all the running under Martin Dwyer to beat Campli by a head.

Sean Curran, who trains at Hatford, near Stanford in the Vale, sent out 16-1 shot Sagunt to post a last-gasp success under James Doyle in a Warwick handicap over a mile and three furlongs.

And Hook Norton trainer Peter Hiatt saddled Moonshine Creek to post a game success under Chris Catlin in a mile and a half handicap at Brighton.

Over the jumps, Vial De Kerdec made a winning debut over fences at Plumpton for Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett yard, near Wantage, with Willie McCarthy in the plate.

Paul Webber, who trains at Mollington, near Banbury, struck on the same card when One Of The Boys landed a novices’ handicap chase in the hands of Faringdon-based jockey William Kennedy, who went on to complete a double aboard Dizzy Future.

Tampa Bay came with a late dash under Oliver Greenall to give Milton Harris’s stables at Edgcote, near Banbury, victory in a handicap hurdle over an extended two miles and seven furlongs at Fakenham.

Back at Plumpton, former Wantage trainer David Gandolfo ended his long wait for a first winner since moving to Charlton Adam in Somerset in August 2007 when Glengarra romped home.

The veteran trainer, who had saddled 95 runners since his last success 705 days ago, was thrilled to see the 12-year-old take a selling handicap chase by 18 lengths under Noel Fehily from Kinkeel, who was running for the second successive day.

Meanwhile, Paul Mason has become the latest addition to the training ranks in Oxfordshire.

The 48-year-old former bloodstock agent has set up his operation at Culworth Grounds Farm, Thorpe Mandeville, near Banbury.

He worked under his late father Ron, who in 1966 trained winners on consecutive days at Royal Ascot with Petite Path in the Queen Mary Stakes and Track Spare in the St James’s Palace Stakes, before spending time with several other trainers including Bryan Smart and Derek Haydn Jones.