Valiant Romeo again showed the value of racecourse experience when taking the EBF Sports Argus Maiden Stakes at Brighton yesterday.

The Mick Channon-trained son of Primo Dominie had been a warm favourite when beaten into third on his debut at Nottingham earlier this month.

But despite being uneasy in the market, the 2-1 chance battled on strongly under Richard Quinn to hold hot favourite Major Cavelli by a neck.

Owner Salem Suhail's representative, Bruce Raymond, said: "The trainer was confident that he had come on a lot for his first run.

"I thought he looked a bit fitter today and he stuck on well."

Valiant Romeo was one of two winning rides missed by Steve Drowne, who will be on the sidelines until the weekend after sustaining minor injuries in a fall at Warwick on Wednesday.

Richard Hughes returned to the winners' enclosure for the first time in six months when Big Bopper scored for his father-in-law Richard Hannon The popular 29-year-old jockey broke his left leg in a fall at Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting last October.