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.