Goodwood report: Court Masterpiece got the upper hand in a thrilling finish to record a deserved first Group-race success with victory in the Betfair Cup (Registered as the Lennox Stakes) at Glorious Goodwood yesterday.

The Ed Dunlop-trained five-year-old dug deepest of all to overhaul Gerard Butler's Jack Sullivan close home and prevail by the minimum margin.

Eddie Ahern took the latter to the front two furlongs from home after the field had tacked across to the near side in the straight, but Philip Robinson had the 4 to 1 winner in his slipstream and pounced over a furlong out with a determined challenge.

It was nip and tuck all the way to the line with Court Masterpiece gamely hanging on to land the spoils.

Majors Cast was a further three lengths away in third but, not for the first time, Arakan looked the unluckiest horse in the race as he stayed on late to finish a never-nearer fifth.

Autumn Glory, the well-backed 11 to 4 favourite, was next to last with Vortex bringing up the rear.

Darryll Holland who rode fourth-placed Royal Storm was banned for two days (August 6th and 7th) for careless riding.

It may not have been Glorious at Goodwood, but David Elsworth was not complaining as The Geezer thrived in the rain-softened conditions on his way to victory in the ABN Amro Gordon Stakes yesterday.

Elsworth said after the Group Three contest that he had been worried that his charge might have gone over the top for the year, having been kept busy since his racecourse debut last December.

However, his worries had disappeared by the three-furlong pole as The Geezer and Richard Quinn swept alongside leader Unfurled and rocketed clear. Five lengths separated the winner and Unfurled at the winning post.