Summer Mile Stakes: Chindit defeats Mutasaabeq in Ascot thriller as class tells for Richard Hannon’s star | Racing News

Chindit and Mutasaabeq served up a thriller in the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot on Saturday with the former’s class just telling in the end.

Richard Hannon’s four-year-old was stepping down from Group One company for the first time since landing the Doncaster Mile Stakes in March, having given chase to the world’s best miler Baaeed on his previous two starts.

Sent off 84/50 second favourite behind Charlie Hills’ Mutasaabeq, a runner-up in Sandown’s Group Two bet365 Mile earlier this season, Chindit was sent forward from the early stages by jockey Pat Dobbs, tracked by The Queen’s horse Tactical.

Jim Crowley and Mutasaabeq tracked the pace on the inside and delivered their challenge from the two-furlong pole as the front two went away from the rest.

Mutasaabeq appeared to have got upsides in the dying stages but Chindit battled it out to win by a head, with 7/2 shot My Oberon just over a length back in third.

The stand’s side rail proved the place to be for Tom Marquand and Mountain Peak (11/1) as they got the better of Bond Chairman in a thrilling photo-finish to win the Betfred Heritage Handicap.

Ed Walker’s seven-year-old sprinter had been winless since victory at Ascot almost 12 months ago but had run with credit in three starts previously, including when runner-up in the Dash at Epsom.

Jason Watson had earlier followed a similar route in front of the grandstand when steering Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Defence Of Fort (12/1) to an impressive victory on debut in the British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.

It marked an important moment for Watson as he celebrated his first success since returning from a month out injured with a fractured collarbone.

There was a tight finish to the Hi-speed Services Handicap as 4/1 shot Bague D’Or held off the challenge of favourite Berkshire Breeze to win for trainer Chris Wall and jockey Neil Callan.