Misterah wins Nell Gwyn

Misterah, ridden by Richard Hills, advertised her classic potential with a one length victory in the group three Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket today.

The filly, a 9-2 chance, held on readily from Massarra (16-1) and 20-1 shot Hiddendale in the 10-strong field.

The race is a trial for the 1,000 Guineas and Misterah`s odds were cut to 16-1 with Queen`s Logic and Gossamer still heading the market as 5-2 favourites for the big race on May 5th.

Winning jockey Hills said: 'I had a clear run through and I got where I wanted to be.'

The disappointment was 11-4 favourite Half Glance, trained by Henry Cecil, who has been in the doldrums in recent times. The filly got squeezed for room and finished in mid-division.

Earlier, Jimmy Fortune delivered Reel Buddy with a late challenge to thwart Continent in the NGK Spark Plugs Abernant Stakes.

Continent, who had been edged out by Reel Buddy at Kempton on Easter Monday, appeared poised to bring punters further cheer after Jamie Spencer produced him with an audacious challenge against the rails in the Dip.

But Reel Buddy found a telling burst up the hill and overhauled Continent close home to prevail by a neck.

Reel Buddy is to be aimed at Royal Ascot for the Stg250,000 Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes, formerly the Cork & Orrery Stakes on the new fifth day of the meeting in June.

'He`s a pretty good horse,' Richard Hannon, Reel Buddy`s trainer, said. 'He should have won a Group Two and a Group Three last year.'

Reel Buddy`s victory was lifting the spirits of the Hannon team, who had one of their horseboxes, containing five intended runners, trapped in a motorway traffic jam on the way to Newmarket.

Hannon withdrew two of his trio - Storm Clear and Mojo Man - engaged in the fourth race and was optimistic that his runners in the fifth and seventh races, Golden Spectrum and Monsieur Boulanger, would take their chance.