Jm Jungle performed two points better than last year and emerged as a relatively convincing winner of the Symphony Group Handicap in York.

The victory for the John and Sean Quinn-trained sprinter ensured that the Ebor meeting began with a local winner, as the Malton-based duo took home the first prize pot of over £60,000.

Last year he had finished third with a score of 92, having previously won at Goodwood, but this season he had remained winless and had now achieved a score of 88.

Covering an extra 89 yards over his normal distance of five furlongs, Jm Jungle ran comfortably after tracking the leading top horse Democracy Dilemma before Jason Hart challenged him to his best.

He quickly won the race, beating the prolific Jordan Electrics by three-quarters of a length, with Looking For Lynda back in third place.

John Quinn said: “He hasn’t had much luck and today he was lucky.

“He just got beat in this race last year when he was pulled on the grandstand side. It didn’t work out for him last time at Goodwood and he ran a great race here in May when he was also pulled on the wrong side.

“He was also fourth in the Rockingham at the Curragh, so he’s had some pretty solid runs and had his chance today.

“When the draw (box six) came out and the ground was dry we were delighted and it’s great to have a winner here so early in the week. We’ll look at all the big sprint handicaps and just go for it.”

The Sky Bet Stayers Handicap ended in an all-Irish result as Pat O’Donnell’s Extensio followed on from his success at Fairyhouse to comfortably defeat Gordon Elliott’s 3-1 favourite Samui.

Ridden by Joey Sheridan, the seven-year-old, who started the race at odds of 14:1, raced home two lengths ahead of his compatriot, raising dreams of a place at Royal Ascot next year.

“He’s a lucky horse. I got him cheap and lucky – and I don’t think we’re finished yet,” said O’Donnell, who won the 1995 Cheltenham Festival and was a trainer.

“I didn’t give Joey any instructions, I just said ‘be the last one to challenge’ and that’s what he did. He was one of the first to let go of the bridle, I could see Joey rowing and I really liked that because I knew he would finish strong – and he did.

“I have to admit, we talked about it and said if he wins today we would race again at Royal Ascot next summer. That’s a big promise but he’s a family horse and I think we have the right as a family to aim there with him. We’re not going to race because of the scenery either.

“I entered him in the Irish Cesarewitch and what can I say? We are here in Yorkshire, Peter Easterby is here – he is one of my idols. It’s unbelievable.”

David O’Meara’s Star Of Lady M was uncatchable as she raced through the Knavesmire to easily secure the Visit Irish Yearling Sale With ITM Fillies’ Handicap.

Starting the race at 13-2, she left her opponents behind to win by four and a half lengths, as she did last month at Newmarket.

“She obviously enjoyed the fast ground and was probably on the right part of the track over there where the action seemed to be all day,” O’Meara said.

“It’s a surprise because she’s run so much. We didn’t think she had that much in her hands. But the fast ground and the tailwind and everything may have exaggerated it.

“She was a good filly at two and like a lot of these good fillies they can get a little lost but she has come back with a bang.

“We’re happy when there are winners here and a winner on the first day of the Ebor meeting is great. Today is a five-furlong race and we hope to do well in the one-mile and six-mile races on Saturday.”

There was also a Yorkshire-trained winner of the final Sky Bet Nursery Handicap: Yes I’m Mali proved the best of Richard Fahey’s three runners to take the spoils at odds of 12-1.

“He would have been the least favorite for me, but I guess that just shows what coaches know,” Fahey said

“I’m just happy to have a winner here, it takes the pressure off (for the week) and I can just relax now.

“He drove a good race at Goodwood (where he finished fifth), but I’m very happy that he won today.”