'I’m really proud of him' - Charlie Hills juvenile survives stewards' inquiry

Thursday: Brighton

Ahead of Baaeed’s final race in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, any nerves Jim Crowley and Shadwell hold may have eased momentarily as Mutaany got off the mark in the 6f novice.

The Charlie Hills-trained two-year-old had finished second on his last three starts, including behind subsequent Group 2 winner Marbaan, and had to survive a stewards’ inquiry over potential interference with Danger Alert, who was a neck behind the Shadwell-owned colt on his stable debut for George Boughey.

The result stood to the relief of Hills, who said: “Crikey! He’s had a hard time of it really this year. He’s bumped into some good horses and it looks like the second today is quite good as well; they pulled well away from them. I’m really proud of him, he’s done great and we’ll probably put him away now.”

Hills, who most notably handled star sprinter Battaash as part of his family's long-term association with Shadwell, also rewarded some fairly recent owners when Racingbreaks Ryder took the feature mile novice.

Crowley partnered the odds-on winner for the Racing Breaks & Friends, who have runners over jumps.

Hills said: "I’m really pleased with that. It’s the first horse they’ve had with me and it’s their first Flat horse ever. It’s nice to come up with a winner for them.”

Fitting finale

The final race of the year at the Sussex venue went fittingly the way of the track's leading trainer for the season, Tony Carroll, as his gelding Pop Dancer landed the 5½f handicap to record back-to-back wins under Clifford Lee.

Results, replays and analysis

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