Hamza proves chip off old block with flying start at Musselburgh

The well-supported 4-1 chance had plenty to live up to as a son of the stable's Group 1 winner Amadeus Wolf, who is having his first runners as a sire this year.

But the youngster got his racing life, and his sire's stallion career, off to the perfect start with an impressive three-and-a-quarter-length victory under Phillip Makin, leaving his trainer thrilled.

"He's a smashing horse and that's a nice start for his sire," said Ryan. "He has a great attitude, just like his daddy, and I'm delighted for his Qatari owner, for whom it's a first winner for me. He's a real professional horse that I bought at Doncaster in August and I'm sure he'll develop and go on to better things."

Ryan and Makin quickly went on to complete a double as 5-4 favourite Red Kestrel made the most of a drop in class in the BDO LLP Classified Selling Stakes.

Always well to the fore, the six-year-old had all of his rivals in trouble turning for home and Makin hardly had to move a muscle.

Grand Diamond tried to bridge the gap but Red Kestrel was four-and-a-half lengths too strong, and was later bought in for 12,500 guineas.

The Michael Smith-trained Nadeen was given a fine ride by Kieren Fallon to claim top honours in the Core Oil And Gas Ltd Handicap. The 11-2 market leader was drawn nearest the stands side in stall 14 and was dropped in before making stealthy headway through the field.

Verinco held a narrow advantage heading inside the final furlong, but Fallon and Nadeen swept by for a half-length success. "He's finished second for us the last twice at Southwell and at last, he's won for me," said Smith. "I bought him from Mick Channon last year. We've gelded him and given him time. We've dropped him back to five furlongs today and that has helped.

"Kieren gave him the perfect ride and said he didn't even need to hit him."

Snow Bay repelled all-comers with a pillar-to-post victory in the Peter Dowell Is Almost 50 Handicap. Guest Book was sent off the hot favourite for the one-mile affair but try as he might, Snow Bay and Adrian Nicholls were not for catching. The 12-1 chance picked up the pace rounding the turn for home and he galloped strongly all the way up the straight to come home with two and a half lengths in hand.

"The old man (Dandy Nicholls, trainer] leaves it to me and he said if he's getting into a rhythm, just let him go," said the jockey.

"We all know what it's like if you can get a cheap lead around here and in fairness to him, he's picked up. He kept galloping and did it well in the end."

Champion jockey Paul Hanagan continued his fine start to the campaign with a double, kick-started by 6-1 shot Les Varglas Star, who routed his rivals in the Boogie In The Morning Handicap. The Richard Fahey inmate had filled the runner-up spot on his final two starts of 2010 and had no trouble making a winning returning, stretching right away in the closing stages for a five-length verdict. Hanagan completed his brace on Howard Johnson's Calypso Magic, while the closing apprentice handicap went to 7-1 chance Hits Only Jude under Neil Farley.