THE bet365 Handicap over six furlongs had €100,000 guaranteed in the pot and looked the strongest (and trickiest) sprint handicap for three-year-olds so far this season.

They were spread right across the course and challengers arrived late down the centre but the far rail finally proved the place to be as Jim Crowley, briefly denied a clear run, switched left on 13/2 chance Ekhtiyaar and kept him going to hold Tommy Taylor by a head.

The latter showed that Kevin Ryan’s horses are well and truly back on song after a length spell of sickness in the yard, while Ultimate Avenue and Golden Apollo were right on top of the front two close home.

Champion jockey Crowley continues his success of the Coral-Eclipse last week and this was a prestigious success for retaining owner Hamdan Al Maktoum as well as providing Roger Varian with another big handicap triumph.

Ekhtiyaar is by one of the sires of the moment, Bated Breath. He won on the other course here before disappointing slightly when fifth and heavily backed in a very hot handicap at York and it looks as if he was below his best that day. This latest victory probably means he will have to take his chance at listed or Group 3 level.