There were upsets galore at the Calcutta racecourse on Saturday as favourites fell like ninepins. Despite this, jockey Christopher Alford (whose suspension order has been kept on hold in view of the oncoming Derby) scored a popular treble with Atherton, Antonello and Gilded Romance.

The day began ominously for punters as Farley Rodrigues-trained Stride to Strike, a 10-to-1 shot put his best foot forward to get the better of Corvino and Lady Pepperoni.

The favourite Atherton, in the lower division of the Not Much Handicap, had to be scrubbed to collar Eternal Spirit who had threatened to land the spoils after taking over the running at the top of the straight.

After playing bridesmaid twice, John Stephens-trained Blood Rayne finally came good in the upper division of the same race. Apprentice I. Khan made every post a winning one. The favourite Grace N Grit tried to get on even terms but may have needed the run.

Steal The Glory did just that as he pulled of a victory in the final few strides of the seven-furlong race for the Midnight Cowboy Cup. Favourite and stablemate Badge of Gold was never in the hunt. Romantic Getaway tried to make ends meet. Rockefeller was the first to challenge him. However, the 'Glory's' late run put paid to the pretensions of the pair.

Second favourite Chardin won the Horendro Kristo Dutt Memorial Cup from the on-money public choice Accalia. The latter never issued a serious challenge to him. The temperamental filly may be worth following though.

Antonello won the Cape Knight Cup without giving any uncomfortable moments to his backers. The Bath-trained five-year-old seems to have returned to form this season after a long period of hibernation. Beauty of Man shocked the fancied pair of Artistical and Areology to lift the Racingpulse.in cup. The latter pair were cutting each other's throat from the word go and this helped the winner's cause.

Sound of Cheers showed that her last win was no fluke. He made every post a winning one in the Indian Produce Stakes. None of the other runners made any impression on this mount of A Imran Khan. The day ended with Gilded Romance pulling off a narrow victory over Astro Boy. Fancied runner The Red Rose failed to place.