It was a case of one down, one to go for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton at Salisbury after On To Victory helped her achieve a lifelong ambition in the Whitsbury Manor Stud Bibury Cup.
Tackling a mile-and-a-half for the first time, the Rock Of Gibraltar gelding appeared to appreciate the step up in trip together with the soft conditions after powering to victory by eight lengths in a race which was won in 2015 by St Leger winner Simple Verse.
Johnson Houghton said of the 100-30 winner: "He is a lovely horse. I've always wanted to win this race and I've always wanted to win the Carlisle Bell, but we got well stuffed in that. I'm chuffed to win this one.
"The race cut up because of the soft ground, but he did well to win like he did. He is a lovely, big, rangy horse. The further he goes the better.
"There are some really nice three-year-old handicaps. I've not looked at the programme book as this was the plan."
Mick Channon was not the only one surprised by the victory of newcomer Veejay in the New Forest Farm Machinery/John Deere Auction Stakes.
Out of luck with his last 55 two-year-old runners at the Wiltshire circuit, the 25-1 chance changed that statistic for the trainer in the six-furlong contest when passing the post with three-quarter of a length to spare.
Channon said: "I did fancy Another Day Of Sun, but it is lovely when they win at that sort of price. I am just pleased it was for John Webster (owner) as he has not been very well.
"He has been very well (Veejay). We have been ready to run him, but we have just been waiting for a bit of ground with give in it. We thought we would give him a spin in this and get him ready for a seven-furlong race.
Christopher Wood (5-1) painted the perfect picture on his racecourse debut with victory in the Whitsbury Manor Stud ebfstallions.com Blagrave Maiden Stakes.
Winning trainer Ralph Beckett said: "The owner is into fine art and he often names them after artists.
"He is a nice horse and he liked the ground. I imagine he would being by Fast Company and you didn't have to be a pedigree expert to work that out.
"I've liked him since we've had him and I like him a bit more now. He will get a mile and a quarter one day."
See Of Rome (6-4 favourite) gifted trainer Richard Hughes his ninth winner in the last 14 days when opening his account in the British EBF Venture Security Maiden Stakes.
Although out of luck in four previous attempts, the son of Pour Moi powered clear of his rivals late on to take the mile-and-a-quarter contest by five lengths.
Hughes said: "He deserved it. He met a few nice ones last year. He is related to Bauer who finished second in the Melbourne Cup and he is from a late-maturing family.
"These are new owners of mine (John and Jordan Lund) and I've been trying to get a winner for them. They have been very patient."
John Bridger has made a reputation for getting the best out of older horses and Pettochside (2-1) proved that theory right after running out a three-quarters of a length winner of the Inspire Foundation Veterans' Handicap.
Owner Peter Cook said: "We found the right race for him and the ground had come right. He seems to be getting better as he is getting older like the trainer and the owner."
Swashbuckle (5-1) showed a tenacious attitude to gain a first success of the campaign when grinding out victory in the H S Lester Memorial Handicap.
Although pressed late on by Grade Three-winning hurdler Sternrubin, the Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old fought back after being headed in the one-mile-six prize to get up by half a length.
Winning Joshua Bryan said: "He showed true guts. He got headed, but kept galloping. The ground suited him as they couldn't quicken away. He is a big out-and-out galloper."