8 May. GB. Grant Thornton Huxley S. G3. Chester. 10,3f. Turf. 60.000 £
1.- CHAMPIONSHIP POINT (D.Holland)
2.- MARAAHEL (R.Hills)
3.- SPICE ROUTE (J.Spencer)


Maraahel was denied a fourth victory in the Grant Thornton Huxley Stakes at Chester by the Mick Channon-trained Championship Point.

Winning jockey Darryll Holland grabbed the initiative at an early stage and though Richard Hills looked to have it won when he nudged Maraahel’s head in front in the final furlong, Championship Point (12-1) fought back gamely to score by a neck in a thrilling finish.

Holland told Channel 4 Racing: “He’s one of my favourites. He’s such a lovely horse and he really stuck his neck out. There wasn’t much pace in the race so I decided to go on, and he is brave enough to do it. It’s great to win here.”

Channon, gaining some consolation for the luckless runs of Nahoodh and Som Tala recently, said: “We needed a change of luck and we have got that. When I saw the ground drying out I knew we had to go again and it is great he has managed to win a Group race.”

Hamdan Al Maktoum’s racing manager Angus Gold said of Maraahel: “It was a good effort. He gave it his best and it is great to see he is still in good shape.

“Richard said he perhaps got there a bit soon, but it is easy to be wise after the event.

“You could say the fact he hasn’t had a race before coming here this year might have made a difference, but I am not using that as an excuse and he isn’t exactly blowing the house down.

“I’ve not discussed plans with Sir Michael (Stoute), but I guess we will follow a similar route to last year.”