As so often is the case, Montassib found himself with all six rivals to pass following a slightly tardy beginning, but Cieren Fallon never panicked and the six-year-old son of Exceed And Excel produced a smart turn of foot to deny Marshman by a neck in the closing stages.

Charlie Hills' Orazio finished back in third.

Fallon, who missed four and a half months through injury, said of the Listed William Hill Cammidge Trophy Stakes winner: "Last year, he was a frustrating horse for me because I felt I should have won the Ayr Gold Cup on him, but we at least ended the season with a win at York.

"I rode him work the other week and I said to the boss he'd improved again, he'd got quicker. He was such an easy ride today, anyone could have won on him.

"I'm very lucky that I was looked after well at Oaksey House, they've spent a lot of hours with me, I took my time as I was off for four and a half months, I didn't want to come back too soon, I wanted to make sure I was 100 per cent.

"I've been back riding out the last three weeks and the boss has put me on some quiet horses to give me some confidence that way. I had a spin yesterday and I feel great, I feel better than ever, and I don't feel like I've lost any race-sharpness at all.

"I'm in a really great position, I'm very lucky to be riding horses like this."