Mamlook has winning habit

Barry Hills was denied a fifth totesport.com Chester Cup with Tastahil as dual-purpose performer Mamlook swooped for glory on the Roodee.

Jockey Richard Hughes had recommended the race to trainer David Pipe after the pair finished strongly for second in the Cesarewitch last year.

And his placing proved spot on as Mamlook broke well from stall five and picked off top weight Tastahil in the dying strides to be award the marathon contest by a head.

Halla San finished third for the second successive year and Irish raider Majestic Concorde completed the placings in fourth.

The 17 runners crawled for most of the two-mile-two-furlong trip and those who sat handy throughout dominated the finish.

Mamlook had plenty of form in the book which allowed him to start the 7-1 market leader, including his Cesarewitch placing and a close second in the 2008 Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Winning owner Peter Deal, who is best known for his association with 1997 Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand, said: “That was fantastic and full marks to Hughsie as it was his idea to run.

“He was so handy all of the way through and learned about him in the Cesarewitch. He wasn’t a close second there but he was a worthy second.

“He’s run in high-class hurdle races and this is a dream, it really is.

“I was born in Cheshire so this is my local track and this is right up there with any other win I have had.”

Hughes said: “It was lucky I went to Aintree as I bumped into David and told him to make sure he put this horse in the Chester Cup!

“I’ve been watching him running over jumps and I’ve kept tipping him to everyone, but the ground kept going too soft for him and he’s a right horse on his day.

“He’s so long and big he normally doesn’t jump that well from the stalls, but luckily he did today and hacked around, so it was ideal.

“I didn’t shine on him in the Cesarewitch as I got too far back. I wouldn’t have beaten the winner but he does like passing horses.”

Hughes landed the Chester Cup aboard Hills’ Rainbow High in 2001, with the dual winner of the race also scoring in 1999.

Arapahos and Daraahem 12 months ago have also done the business for Hills and Tastahil defied his outside draw in stall 16 and his 22-1 starting price to be beaten by a battling head.

Hills’ son and assistant, Charlie, said: “He was very backward in his coat first time out at Nottingham, but has really come to himself since then and the horses have been in much better form.

“He’s run a blinder from draw 16 and off top weight. He lost his concentration slightly turning for home and was trying to get back up in the last few strides.

“We might have to think about stepping up in grade due to his handicap mark, but we will wait and see what happens.”