THE Group 2 Huxley Stakes was the main event as far as the pattern went on Friday, and the race went with the market, with odds-on favourite Point Lonsdale winning by a hard-fought neck over Mujtaba (William Haggas/Jim Crowley) with Noel Meade’s Layfayette (Colin Keane) another length and a half behind in a creditable third.

Successful in four of his five juvenile starts, Point Lonsdale looked a potential superstar in the 2022 classic crop, but only made it to the racecourse once as a three-year-old, finishing down the field in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The son of Australia proved that all his ability remains intact with a comeback victory in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes at the Curragh last month, however, and was sent off at 5/6 to give Aidan O’Brien a fourth Huxley Stakes win. He duly did what was expected, but not without a scare or two along the way.

Poker Face made the running in the extended 10-furlong contest with Point Lonsdale and Moore quickly on the leader’s shoulder and initially looking comfortable, but Point Lonsdale was inclined to race idly, and Moore had to keep niggling at him to pick up the bridle.

In fairness to him, Point Lonsdale kept responding when asked and hit the front in the straight, only to drift right under pressure, giving the runner-up a chance as he came through the gap left on the inside.

Moore had to get serious, but Point Lonsdale won with a little bit to spare and gave the impression he would be better suited by a stiffer track and/or an extra furlong or two.

Moore’s reaction to the win was typical of his deadpan delivery, saying: “It wasn’t very pretty, was it?”

Joy for Saffie as Metier finds his niche

METIER (Harry Fry/Saffie Osborne) was a last-gasp winner of a thrilling Chester Cup on Friday, and while the winner has proven more miss than hit over hurdles since landing the Grade 1 Tolworth at Sandown as a novice, he seems a happier horse on the flat, adding this famous contest to his win in the November Handicap at Doncaster last term.

The seven-year-old was well supported, going off second favourite at 5/1, and was given a cool ride by Osborne as Emiyn set what was initially a strong pace, but which slackened once the leader found his rhythm, tracked through by favourite Call My Bluff (Dominic Ffrench Davis/John Egan).

The race really developed from the final bend where Emiyn kicked, only to be joined by Call My Bluff a furlong out. The latter was in turn joined by Zoffee (Hugo Palmer/Ben Curtis), who looked the winner until Metier arrived fast, late, and wide to conquer, beating Zoffee by a neck, with Call My Bluff three-parts of a length behind that rival in third.

It was as good a finish as I’ve seen in the race for many years, and the winning jockey was justifiably elated, although also self-effacing in victory.

“It didn’t really go right through the race,” said the modest winning rider. “I was too far back, and he was all guts. I was saying what a tough horse he is, but he’s also extremely talented and still fairly unexposed at this trip on the flat.

“I was having to make up ground on a part of a track that I didn’t really want to have to, but he was making it feel very easy and I didn’t want to check his momentum. You’d like to think there’s more left in the tank.”

Chester Thursday

Father beats son as San Antonio strikes

AIDAN O’Brien’s San Antonio (Ryan Moore) made it a family occasion as he got the better of son Donnacha’s Alder (Gavin Ryan) – running in the colours of his mother - to win the Listed Dee Stakes. San Antonio – sent off at the unusual price of 16/5 - had to ride an early bump, but was given a positive ride by Ryan Moore, and made a decisive move with a couple of furlongs to run.

He began to tire inside the last furlong but held on comfortably enough to score by a length and three quarters from the 11/10 favourite, who seemed to find the track working against him, hanging under pressure as he stayed on.

San Antonio was a 10th winner of the race for Aidan O’Brien, several of the others making up into smart performers, although it’s notable that none of them won the Derby, and this colt, who trumped the runner-up for pace, looks unlikely to end that sequence.

Alder wouldn’t look an obvious Epsom candidate given he got unbalanced here, but he will benefit from more of a test of stamina and may prove the better prospect at a mile and a half.

Aidan O’Brien said: “Donnacha’s horse ran a stormer having got dropped back in a messy race, but Ryan had his horse in a better position and was able to control the race.

“We were always going to ride him forward. He’s nice and relaxed and was happy to have horses around him, and he found plenty. Obviously, it looks like he’s adaptable and will get further. Epsom has to be looked at as well as Ascot and France. The lads will decide.”

Hamish repeats 2022 success

HAMISH (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) became the first horse since St Expedit in 2001/02 to gain back-to-back victories in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Thursday, with the 7/4 shot ousted from morning favouritism but proving typically tough and genuine in beating Lone Eagle (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan) by a comfortable length and a quarter.

Changingoftheguard (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) was heavily backed into 11/10 favouritism and set out to make all the running, but could finish no better than third, a further two and a half lengths in arrears.

The winner is lightly raced as a seven-year-old, and looked as good as ever as he chalked up his seventh career success from just 15 outings, with this his fourth win at Group 3 level.

Hamish was held up as Changingoftheguard made the running, making headway on the home turn, and he soon put the race to bed when produced to tackle the leader a furlong out, with Marquand able to ease him in the dying strides.

Lone Eagle was a little disappointing on his debut for Ralph Beckett in the John Porter at Newbury, but the former Irish Derby runner-up shaped better here after an early bump, keeping on well for second, albeit failing to threaten the winner unduly.

“He is in at York [Yorkshire Cup] next week,” said trainer’s wife Maureen Haggas. “He could run there if there was some cut in the ground and he told us he was ready, as William’s father loves York.

“He had a tendon injury as a four-year-old – who knows what he might have achieved without that? But he’s one Andrew Tinkler and I fight to ride at home - you get such an attachment to a horse like him.