Plucky Akmal pockets Melrose

Akmal regained the winning thread with a battling victory under Richard Hills in the Sky Bet Melrose Stakes at York.

Hills looked full of confidence turning for home on John Dunlop’s 8-1 shot, who was beaten into fifth at Glorious Goodwood on his penultimate start but was a course-and-distance scorer in July.

Although Mark Johnston’s Alanbrooke proved a tough nut to crack, the chestnut gradually wore him down to score by three-quarters of a length.

Bernie The Bolt finished to good effect to pick up minor honours in third, while 9-2 joint-favourite Cosmic Sun made late headway to take fourth.

Hills said: "We stepped him up and we thought this trip would suit him. The track definitely does because he has won here before.

“He seems to like firm ground, which is a bit unusual for a Selkirk. It was a big, brave effort. They’ve done really well with the ground, there is very good cover.”

Dunlop said: "He had a good draw, they went a good pace and he had a good run all the way round and has done it well. He’s an honest and genuine horse, and a nice type. Going beyond a mile and a half suited him well.”