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Rah Rah roars back for Chester success

Rah Rah (front right) ridden by Franny Norton wins the Stellar Group Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes from Silver Wings at Chester
Image: Rah Rah (right) gets back up in the final strides to deny her rival.

The rest of the news from the opening day of Chester's May meeting, where there was drama right from the start as Rah Rah snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the Stellar Group Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes.

Rah Rah rallied in the shadow of the winning post to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the Stellar Group Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes.

The 2/1 favourite, trained by Mark Johnston, looked beaten on the far rail once Silver Wings was thrust into an advantage passing the furlong-pole.

But Rah Rah did not tire on the rain-softened ground and fought back at the death to get back up by half a length under Chester maestro Franny Norton.

A yawning five lengths separated runner-up Silver Wings and Fashionable Spirit, a stablemate of the winner.

Deirdre Johnston, wife of the Middleham handler, said: "She is so tough - what a game filly. She shows lot of speed and is very professional and stayed on well on soft ground.

"I'm thinking she can go either five or six furlongs and that [Royal Ascot] is the dream."

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Norton said: "It was a smart race and a smart time. On a bit better ground, you might see a smart filly."

Enthusiastic owner Dr Marwan Koukash posted a first winner of the week at his hallowed Chester when Lexi's Hero defied fears about the ground to win the Boodles Diamond Handicap.

Koukash expressed mild shock after Richard Fahey's 10/1 chance held off Confessional by a length and a quarter in the deteriorating conditions.

Come On Dave set an electric gallop, but he was overwhelmed inside the final 150 yards as Lexi's Hero cashed in under the guidance of Tony Hamilton.

Cruise Tothelimit finished third, another half a length adrift of the winner.

Koukash: "It was a surprise as he doesn't like this softer ground. He's well handicapped, though, and the instruction was to sit behind the pace."

"I gave him a chance and he's come home well," said Hamilton. "Because they went so hard, it played into my hands a bit."

Fahey said: "This is a star of a horse and it's great for Marwan, I'm delighted for him. There are no plans - it was 'Chester, then have a look'."

Not Never continued on the upgrade as he turned the Diabetes UK And British Heart Foundation Handicap into a procession.

Winner of the second of his two starts as a juvenile, the Hugo Palmer-trained gelding returned to action and committed some way from home under Graham Gibbons.

Seeing the extended mile and a half out well, he was eased before the line for a five-length success from Hernandoshideaway.

Assistant trainer George Boughey said of the 11-1 winner: "He was impressive, we always thought he would do well with age and he will stay further in time.

"He'll improve for better ground and there might be some nice handicaps at Ascot for him."

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