CHRIS Wall was left dreaming of Winter Derby glory after Premio Loco stole a march on his rivals in the William Hill January Sales - 0800 44 40 40 Conditions Stakes at Lingfield.

The Chris Wall-trained gelding, confidently ridden by George Baker, showed good pace to hold Red Somerset by half a length.

The pair engaged in a brief tussle in the home straight, but Premio Loco soon asserted and looked good value for his margin of victory.

Wall said: ‘‘He’d been off the track for a while and this looked a good opportunity to get him back. We’ll now go for a Listed race at Kempton in a few weeks.

‘‘The time was a second slower than when he won his maiden, so we know he can go faster.

‘‘He didn’t seem to get nine furlongs in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, but he tore off a shoe which might have happened when he pecked three or four strides after the start.

‘‘I can’t say he’ll stay a mile and a quarter, as he’s so comfortable at a mile.

‘‘But if things go to plan the Winter Derby could be in the pipeline.”

Evident Pride proved an unlikely winner of the William Hill January Sale - Enhanced Favourites! Handicap as he passed five rivals in the final furlong and a half to score at 16-1 under Ian Mongan.

The Brett Johnson-trained six-year-old did not go unbacked by owners Tom Dempsey, Michael Fitzpatrick and Hoosh Nash.

Dempsey enthused: ‘‘We bought the horse last June and he wasn’t right when beaten at Ascot and Kempton.

‘‘Brett has always been bullish about this horse.’’ Eddie Ahern, rider of the sixth-placed Paktolos, was suspended for two days (January 17-18) for careless riding.

Terry Mills sent out Pegasus Again to make all in the William Hill January Sales - Bonuses Galore! Handicap under a carefully-judged ride from Robert Havlin.

Mills said: ‘‘He’s had laser treatment on a wind problem and still makes a noise - but only when he pulls up!’’ Slip initiated an across-thecard double for Jim Boyle when inching home from Teasing in the William Hill January Sale Now On! Claiming Stakes, while Toby Atkinson gained a second career success on the Julia Feildentrained Bavarica in the Weatherbys All Weather ‘Hands And Heels’ Apprentice Handicap.

Mark Johnston’s Lord Chancellor was easy to back in the face of strong support for Mile High Lad in the William Hill January Sale - Better Odds! Maiden Stakes.

But, under Greg Fairley, the 5-6 favourite dominated throughout to beat Mellow Mixture two and a quarter lengths.

Fairley said: ‘‘We got a nice easy lead and he showed the best turn of foot in the straight.’’ Patrick Hills made a winning move when he switched Barnezet to the far rail inside the final furlong of the William Hill January Sales - Why Bet Elsewhere Handicap.