Maarek lands Abbaye Irish raider Maarek rattled home under Declan McDonogh to deny Catcall in a thrilling finish to the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp. Home hope Catcall travelled with ease behind the early pace and burst to the front at the furlong-pole. But all the time McDonogh was working his way through the pack in behind and he grabbed the leader in the final strides to score by a short-neck. Hamza, up with the pace and against the stands' rail from the start, just managed to deny Jwala for third pace by a short-head. Favourite Dutch Masterpiece was never able to land a blow just in behind under Ryan Moore. McDonogh said: "They went very fast, but he got a nice lead off the horse who was second. "He's very game and he loves soft ground. "They've done a great job with him, and he goes to Ascot (QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes) now with a great chance." Winning trainer Barry Lalor added: "We knew the horse was in good form and he likes the ground soft, but it's always risky with a hold-up horse as you never know what's going to happen. "It's every trainer and owner's dream with a sprinter to end up in this race and I'd like to particularly thank my assistant Evanna McCutcheon for getting the horse here in such good shape. "We'd like to go for the Ascot sprint he won last year now." Neil Callan, rider of the Kevin Ryan-trained Hamza, said: "He ran a great race, but he'd run in the Haydock Sprint Cup and in the Ayr Gold Cup and ideally he could have come here a bit fresher. But I was very pleased with him nonetheless." Jwala's jockey Steve Drowne said: "To be honest, I think the ground has got a bit quick for her and she never got in quite the same rhythm as she did at York, but she has run a fabulous race and is clearly in good order." Reckless Abandon was fifth for Clive Cox, who said: "From that high draw he has run with enormous credit and has finished close enough for us to be pleased. "He is still a potent force and we will see how he is before deciding whether he runs again this season."
