Mamlook ensures Hughes' hunch pays off

Hughes had recommended the famous old race to trainer David Pipe after the pair finished strongly for second in the Cesarewitch last year. And his advice proved spot on as Mamlook broke well from stall five and picked off Barry Hill's top weight Tastahil in the dying strides to be award the marathon contest by a head.

Halla San finished third for the second successive year and Irish raider Majestic Concorde completed the placings in fourth.

The 17 runners crawled for most of the two-mile-two-furlong trip and those who sat handy throughout dominated the finish.

Mamlook had plenty of form in the book which allowed him to start the 7-1 market leader, including his Cesarewitch placing and a close second in the 2008 Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Winning owner Peter Deal, who is best known for his association with 1997 Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand, said: "That was fantastic and full marks to Hughsie as it was his idea to run. He was so handy all of the way through and learned about him in the Cesarewitch. He wasn't a close second there but he was a worthy second.

"He's run in high-class hurdle races and this is a dream, it really is.

"I was born in Cheshire so this is my local track and this is right up there with any other win I have had."

Hughes said: "It was lucky I went to Aintree as I bumped into David and told him to make sure he put this horse in the Chester Cup. I've been watching him running over jumps and I've kept tipping him to everyone, but the ground kept going too soft for him and he's a right horse on his day.

"He's so long and big he normally doesn't jump that well from the stalls, but luckily he did today and hacked around, so it was ideal.

"I didn't shine on him in the Cesarewitch as I got too far back. I wouldn't have beaten the winner but he does like passing horses."

Hughes landed the Chester Cup aboard Hills' Rainbow High in 2001, with the dual winner of the race also scoring in 1999.

Arapahos and Daraahem 12 months ago have also done the business for Hills and Tastahil defied his outside draw in stall 16 and his 22-1 starting price to be beaten by a battling head.

Hills' son and assistant, Charlie, said: "He's run a blinder from draw 16 and off top weight. He lost his concentration slightly turning for home and was trying to get back up in the last few strides."

John Gosden ensured domestic harmony as he sent out Gertrude Bell, who is owned by his wife Rachel Hood, to lay down an Epsom marker in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks.

Light Shift progressed from victory on the Roodee three years ago to land the Investec Oaks and Gertrude Bell received quotes ranging from 16-1 to 20s for the fillies' Classic after scoring under William Buick.

The home-bred filly appreciated a step up in distance when scoring at Newbury last month and relished the near mile-and-a-half trip by knuckling down to peg back front- runner Acquainted for a three-quarter-length success.

Hood said: "The trainer has made his wife very proud. She has a lovely attitude and I couldn't be more thrilled.

"Gertrude Bell was the most amazing woman last century and I hope she can emulate her."

Gosden added: "If you win a Chester trial, then you have got to go to Epsom."

Julius Geezer lifted the weight from Tom Dascombe's shoulders as he provided his Malpas yard with a first two-year-old winner of the campaign in the Manor House Stables Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes.

Dascombe is in his first full season in charge of the stable owned by Manchester United striker Michael Owen and Betfair founder Andrew Black, but he has endured a slow start to the season with just one prior Turf victory.

Julius Geezer came to his rescue, though, and made all in the stable-sponsored five-furlong dash to see off odds-on favourite Bathwick Bear by nearly three lengths.

Buick used forcing tactics to complete a 34-1 double as Masamah (9-1) blitzed his rivals on his first outing for Kevin Ryan in the five-furlong Clatterbridge Cancer Research Handicap.

Michael Jarvis' yard is one of the hottest in the land and he sent out a double courtesy of Alrasm and Thaahira to make it five winners in the last three days. Alrasm, the 5-2 joint favourite, successfully stepped up to a mile and a half under Richard Hills in the Clatterbridge Cancer Research Handicap, while Thaahira (5-1) showed a taking turn of foot in the Residence At HQ Maiden Stakes.

Both winners carry the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum, and his racing manager, Angus Gold, said of the latter: "She is in the Ribblesdale and I am sure we will look at something like that."