THE 2001 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble sparked what could be a fairytale return to the big time when he landed a charity race over a mile and five furlongs at Newbury last Thursday.

The 11-year-old returned to the biggest cheer of the day, after spreadeagling his rivals under retired jockey Brendan Powell, and trainer Noel Chance is keen to let him take his chance in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot.

After the win Chance said: "We've been thinking about running him in the Queen Alexandra over two miles and six furlongs - Dorans Pride ran in it and Beef Or Salmon might also run, along with a lot of other good National Hunt horses.

"He was always a quick horse when winning those good races over fences and he wants quick ground. He wasn't really tuned up for today as he's only been back with me for 10 weeks."

Approach earned a possible tilt at the Irish Oaks when she held the flying finish of Flying Wanda in the Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes.

Afterwards her trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, said: "You had to hold her mother up to the last moment but she would go instantly. Approach is not quite so classy and won't do it quite so well."

Topton ended a long losing run for trainer Paul Howling when taking the showcase handicap to gain a 14th career success.

Howling said: "Trust me to pick a race with that title (the Muppet Stakes!). He's a grand servant and was unlucky at Doncaster."

Manton trainer John Gosden notched a double with maiden winners Gwaihir and El Laoob, although the latter was at the expense of the stable's unlucky-in-running favourite Felicity.

Roger Charlton took the seven-furlong maiden with Tree Peony while Alan King's Trouble At Bay landed the mile-and-a-half handicap and will be going hurdling next winter.