Sir Michael Stoute's Dannyday was a hugely popular winner of the first ever Betfred Northumberland Vase at Newcastle.
Backed from 6-1 into 7-2 favouritism, those who fancied him for the Plate itself will have been ruing their luck after he narrowly missed the cut for the main event.
However, his success only looked likely in the last half a furlong as Ted Durcan had to sit and suffer from his draw in stall 16.
The four-year-old really hit top gear close home but it looked as if Poyle Thomas and Haines had got first run on him.
Dannyday quickened up smartly, though, looking a cut above his rivals as he got home by a neck from Haines.
Poyle Thomas was a further three-quarters of a length away, with Sir Chauvelin fourth.
"He was slowly away and I was hoping to ride him handy," said Durcan.
"I had to sit and suffer after that and I met plenty of trouble in the straight.
"I met a wall of horses but once I got in the clear and he started picking up I always felt that I'd get to them.
"He's a nice horse, very progressive."