Maraahel lands Huxley double
Maraahel landed the odds in fine style in the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Huxley Stakes at Chester today.
Michael Stoute’s entry looked head and shoulders above his rivals in the parade ring beforehand, and so it proved in the race itself.
Richard Hills sent the 4-11 favourite past the free-running Near Dock and into the lead halfway around the final bend.
Travelling strongly, the son of Alzao was not hard pressed to draw clear and claim the Group Three contest for the second year in succession by three lengths from Counsel’s Opinion.
“He likes it round here. He won this race last year,” Stoute said.
“He’s a very consistent horse. He’s just not quite a Group One horse but he has acquitted himself very well in them. He’s had some tough jobs and run well.
“He gets a mile and a half equally well to this extended 10 furlongs. We’ll go back and think about where to go next, but he’s quite well entered.”
