CHARLIE Hills is up and running for the season and won Wednesday’s Listed CSP European Free Handicap at Newmarket with 3/1 joint-favourite Ibn Malik, who made all and came home two lengths clear of Scrutineer.

This will be an interesting campaign for the Lambourn trainer, whose father Barry won this event four times. Hills Jr has Darryll Holland on the strength now but Paul Hanagan remains principal rider to Hamdan Al Maktoum and was on board here, quickly stretching the field as Adventurous tried to go with him. That persistent challenge petered out as Mick Channon’s Scrutineer loomed up at the furlong pole but Ibn Malik kept up the gallop and was going away again at the finish.