Rakaan off the mark

Odds-on favourite Rakaan was a comfortable winner of the freebets.co.uk League Football Free Bets Maiden Stakes at Bath today, finally securing victory at the eighth time of asking.

The Brian Meehan-trained juvenile was always prominent and moved into the lead as they travelled inside the two-furlong marker. However, he was wandering in front and the 8-11 market leader blundered into the path of Desert Poppy, forcing that rival to miss a stride.

The efforts of Martin Dwyer to keep his mount from hanging and the final margin of two and a quarter lengths were more than adequate to convince the stewards that no inquiry was necessary.

Meehan's assistant Patrick McEwan said: "I think what he's done today will give him a lot of confidence. It will help him in the future.

"He's a straightforward horse, he's a great ride and he does everything you ask him to do."

A photo-finish was required to separate Desperate Dan and Green Lagonda in the John Sisk 150th Anniversary Claiming Stakes with the verdict going to Bath-expert Desperate Dan.

Trained by Andrew Haynes, the Amy Baker-ridden 14-1 chance was searching for his fifth win at the Somerset course and duly ran on alongside Green Lagonda inside the final furlong in a tense battle to the line.

It was impossible to tell which of the pair had triumphed without the photo and a dead-heat was only avoided by the minuscule margin of a nose.

Lady Hestia recorded an eased-down victory in the Vinci Construction Handicap to chalk up a double for Dwyer.

Fin Vin De Leu had attempted to make all the running with Joe Fanning onboard, but the Marcus Tregoning-trained Lady Hestia was always stalking the leader and was right on his heels by the turn into the home straight.

The contest was soon over as Lady Hestia kicked clear of the tiring pacemaker while the other two rivals were never competitive, leaving Fin Vin De Leu to claim second, two and a quarter lengths adrift of the winner.