'It was an anxious wait' - Private Affair gains first success after lengthy stewards' inquiry

A lengthy stewards' inquiry left connections of the first two home in the 5f novice stakes on tenterhooks but the wait ended in joy for owners A Bit On The Side after Private Affair was awarded the race. 

The Richard Hannon-trained juvenile, sent off at 8-15, finished a neck second after being carried wide by first-past-the-post Ahead Of Fashion. His owners, along with favourite-backers in a bumper bank holiday crowd, were forced to wait for 15 minutes for the placings to finally be reversed. 

"It was a very anxious wait, not quite the way you want to do it, but it's still amazing to win," said owner Joe Parkin. "I had my father-in-law saying there's no way it would be reversed, and still believes that, but Richard thought he had a chance. 

"He's such a lovely horse, he's got a great temperament and Richard and Sean [Levey, jockey] have done a super job with him. He's doing everything we want him to do just now and we can't wait to see what's next."

Private Affair was scoring at the second attempt following a close defeat on his debut at Newbury last month. He holds entries in valuable sales races later in the year but could step up to six furlongs next, with Hannon eyeing the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom. 

Hannon and Levey enjoyed a more straightforward success later on the card when Persian Spirit battled to the line to win the feature 6f fillies' handicap. 

The trainer said: "She's got a lot of speed and did it the hard way, virtually making all, and it's hard to do that here as they come late and nine times out of ten they mug you on the line. She was very brave, so it's not been a bad day at all."

Distinct improvement

Bigger and better assignments could await Crestofdistinction after he made a strong start to his three-year-old campaign with success in the 6f maiden stakes. 

The Kodiac colt placed in his two runs last year and was a professional operator on his seasonal debut, with the 3-1 shot making all under David Probert. 

"He's built well over the winter and he's always shown a lot of ability at home," the jockey said. "He's had two racecourse gallops here prior to this and shaped up well from each one, and we put the cheekpieces on because he's such a laid-back horse. He's got the potential to keep improving into a nice sprinter."

Trainer Jack Channon suggested a step up in class for some better handicaps at Ascot, Newmarket or York could await the winner after his promising three-and-a-half-length win. 

Probert added: "He's going the right way about things and I always thought he was quite smart. He was quite green last year but it was a much different story today – he pretty much dominated as soon as he jumped out." 

Yuvraaj upsets odds

Several close finishes played out at Monday's meeting but Yuvraaj emerged on top in the tightest of all when he claimed a surprise win in the first division of the mile handicap. 

The Marco Botti-trained three-year-old colt, sent off at 20-1 on the back of two well-beaten starts at Meydan over the winter, prevailed by a short head over favourite Winston's Warrior on this return to the all-weather.

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