Middle Earth bounced back from his St Leger disappointment to win the Troy Asset Management Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot.

Following victory in the lucrative Melrose Handicap at York in August, the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was supplemented for last month’s Doncaster Classic at a cost of £50,000, but finished a well beaten seventh on softer ground.

Back on a sounder surface in Berkshire, Middle Earth was a 9-4 chance for what looked a warm renewal of this Listed contest and ultimately got the job done in good style.

William Buick set out to make every yard of the running aboard St Leger sixth Chesspiece, with Oisin Murphy aboard Middle Earth and Jim Crowley on 6-4 favourite Naqeeb – a half-brother to the top-class pair of Baaeed and Hukum – content to bide their time for much of the one-mile-six-furlong journey.

With Naqeeb unable to pick up, it was Middle Earth who was produced to challenge Chesspiece – and while no quarter was given by either horse or jockey, it was Murphy’s mount who found most when it mattered to prevail by a length. Naqeeb was a further five and a half lengths behind in third.

Murphy, completing a double on the card having earlier steered Andrew Balding’s Hampden Park to success in the colours of Sir Alex Ferguson, told Sky Sports Racing: “Middle Earth found the ground a little bit soft at Doncaster and when I knew I couldn’t run well I looked after him.

“Fortunately he trained well between then and now, John was very happy and Thady felt like his work was good, so he was allowed to take his chance and I’m delighted. It’s a nice way to finish his season and Sheikh Fahad (owner) will be over the moon.

“We’ll look forward to next year. He’s a beautiful horse, easy to ride and he seems to stay well.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Melrose Stakes winner Middle Earth will be a supplementary entry for the final British Classic of the season, the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.

The Qatar Racing-owned Roaring Lion colt took the staying handicap in impressive style at York on the final day of the Ebor meeting.

He was also a winner on his previous outing when taking a mile-and-a-half novice event at Newmarket and was second on his two prior runs over lesser trips.

Ahead of the York win he was not a part of the Leger entry list, but the Knavesmire performance has inspired connections to pay the £50,000 needed to secure him a place in the field for the world’s oldest Classic.

The Gosden yard could therefore be well-stocked for the Classic, with Juddmonte’s Arrest, Queen’s Vase winner Gregory and Lion’s Pride – who beat Middle Earth at Kempton – all holding entries at present.

Thady Gosden said of Middle Earth: “He’s progressed well throughout the year, he’s always looked like a nice staying colt in the making.

“Of course he won the Melrose, which is an impressive handicap, in good style.

“He’s got plenty of size and scope, he’s a horse that’s taken time to mature, as many three-year-olds do.

“It’s a fortunate position to be in, to have a few horse who could take up starting positions in the St Leger.”