Cool Hoof Luke took another step forward when winning the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York.

The Andrew Balding-trained son of Advertise, who was named after World Darts champion 'Cool Hand' Luke Humphries, has run with plenty of credit after making a winning debut at Chelmsford, including when finishing a highly-promising fourth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before grabbing the bronze medal position in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Oisin Murphy's mount was sent off an 8/1 chance to go two spots better on the Knavesmire and dug deep inside the final furlong to hold off the challenge of Charlie Appleby's Shadow Of Light.

Adrian Keatley's Symbol Of Strength defied his 80/1 odds by running a blinder back in third.

Andrew Balding's wife, Anna Lisa, said: "He's a big horse, a big two-year-old. It doesn't always happen, but it happened and it's just fantastic.

"You look at him and you think he's going to be a better three-year-old, we weren't sure about the trip, it was going to be a question mark today – he's bred to be a sprinter, looks like a seven-furlong horse – and again, the trainer got it right.

"I think we were a bit disappointed at Goodwood, but he came back and won the right one today.

"Andrew will be making the decisions, but it is exciting."

The winner was cut in half to 8/1 for the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket later in the year.

Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said on the second-placed horse: "We're happy. That was his first step up into Group company and it is a big step up. I think he's probably learned a lot, he's run his race, but he just got beaten by one better on the day.

"I think the trip is fine for him, he'll stick at six for now, but he just got beat by one on the day.

"I did just say to Charlie, though, that it looks good for Aomori City as he beat the winner at Goodwood, so we'll take that.

"We can't complain, it's only his third run and first in Group company."