Hamish joins an elite club with successful Ormonde Stakes defence

Haggas-trained seven-year-old swoops to conquer on the Roodee.

Hamish became the first horse in over 20 years to secure back-to-back victories in the tote.co.uk Bet GBP 5 Get GBP 20 Ormonde Stakes at Chester.

The William Haggas-trained gelding may be a seven-year-old, but he has been raced sparingly, with this only his 15th career start.

His six previous victories include three at Group Three level, with his win on the Roodee supplemented by success in the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot in October.

With conditions to suit, Hamish (7-4) was given plenty of time to find his feet by Tom Marquand as 11-10 favourite Changingoftheguard set out to make all.

Hamish and Tom Marquand after winning at Chester
Hamish and Tom Marquand after winning at Chester (Neil Morrice/PA)

The complexion of the race changed before the home turn when Changingoftheguard came under pressure while Hamish was only getting going and he was ultimately good value for the winning margin of a length and a quarter. Lone Eagle stuck to his task well to split the pair in second.

Hamish is only the fourth horse to win a second Ormonde Stakes and the first since St Expedit claimed successive wins in 2001 and 2002.

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