Khairaat impresses in Chester opener

Khairaat proved the betting to be spot-on as he gave a superb front-running performance to win the Glateley PLC Changing The Legal Landscape Handicap at Chester.

Jim Crowley was able to dictate affairs from the start as he grabbed the rail on the 10-11 favourite from his plum draw of stall one and set the fractions he wanted.

Mistiroc tried to harass Khairaat but was brushed aside when Crowley asked the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt to go and win the race.

Quickening nicely in the straight, Khairaat passed the post four and a half lengths clear of Brorocco, who put in good late work for second.

Crowley said: "He's still a lightly-raced baby and when you're making the running around here there's lots to look at.

"Really, I'd love to have taken a lead, but nobody really wanted to go and he was very professional at the business end of things.

"He picked up really well when I asked him. He's got no weight on his back with 8st 7lb. He's made the running and had it his way, but he's a lovely horse and did it nicely."

A well-backed favourite proves to be a comfortable winner: Khairaat wins the opener on Wednesday @ChesterRaces pic.twitter.com/pWtlBFxxTp

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 11, 2017

Richard Hills, racing adviser to winning owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, confirmed an appearance at Royal Ascot could be on the agenda.

He said: "He's a horse that we've really liked for a while and Sir Michael looked after him last year.

"He had a pretty favourable mark. They didn't go particularly fast early and he's always shown a turn of foot at home.

"We always felt that he could turn into a nice horse as a four-year-old and we'd love to see if we can get him to Royal Ascot.

"For now, 10 furlongs is his trip and we've always thought a lot of him but he's had a lot of niggly problems which he's now over.

"He's bred to handle this place as he's from the same family as Maraahel, who loved Chester."