Dazzler hits century on Chorist

Darryll Holland was the star of the show at Chepstow last night when his victory on Chorist in the Group Three Oakgrove Stud Golden Daffodil Stakes was his 100th of the season.

He still has a mountain to climb to catch Kieren Fallon, who is on 144, but he is in second spot in the jockeys’ table and the winners are flowing nicely.

The William Haggas-trained Chorist landed a brave pillar-to-post success, resisting the strong challenge of odds-on favourite Favourable Terms to win comfortably in the end.

Holland took the four-runner field along at a steady pace in the 10-furlong contest, and after Monturani’s threat fizzled out, Fallon brought Favourable Terms to throw down a challenge in the final two furlongs.

But Holland had enough left in the locker and Chorist (9-4) ran on strongly to win by two and a half lengths.

Holland, who began the day on 97 winners, landed a double at Ascot during the afternoon.

Pastoral Pursuits was an impressive winner of the Averti Maiden Auction Stakes for trainer Hughie Morrison.

The gambled-on Scholarship was smartly away and took them along, but Steve Drowne had Pastoral Pursuits well positioned on the outside and when he pressed the button, the race was soon over.

Pastoral Pursuits (11-10) surged clear to win by eight lengths from Handsome Cross.

Drowne went on to complete a quick double when Saintly Thoughts (10-1) took the Principality Building Society Claiming Stakes on his first run for trainer Bernard Llewellyn.

The eight-year-old, who had not run on the Flat for over three years, got the better of a duel with Regal Repose through the last two furlongs to win by two and a half lengths.

Local trainer Milton Bradley landed a winner when Mujkari arrived fast and late to catch Blue Trojan in the shadow of the post in the S.E.T. Office Supplies Handicap.

Blue Trojan looked to have beaten off all-comers entering the final furlong but Adrian McCarthy produced the winner (14-1) with a late flourish.

Celtic Star (25-1), absent from the Flat for nearly two years, came to challenge for the lead three furlongs out and galloped on strongly to win by five lengths for Nick Williams in the opening Elinia Data Centre Amateur Riders’ Handicap.