Holloway Boy made a long-awaited return to the winners' enclosure when hanging tough to land the opening Group 3 Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile at Haydock.
The Karl Burke-trained four-year-old caused a mammoth surprise when landing the 2022 Listed Chesham Stakes at odds of 40/1 on his debut at Royal Ascot and although he has performed creditably since, he has failed to get his head in front subsequently.
Following placed efforts in valuable handicaps at Goodwood and York recently, Karl Burke's contender was sent off a 7/2 chance to return to winning ways. The son of Ulysses travelled strongly in the hands of William Buick before fending off a late rally from the well-backed Dylan Cuhna-trained Prague (100/30) to score by half a length.
Richard Hannon's Witch Hunter ran on strongly to finish third.
"What a great story," said Burke on ITV Racing. "He's been a bit frustrating since winning on debut at Royal Ascot, but I knew he had loads of ability."
"He works so well at home and only does enough wherever he goes.
"He's been running really well in big handicaps. He's been travelling well and then petering out inside the last half-furlong and not quite getting there, so I said to William today 'if you're travelling well three down, go and let him get his head in front' – and I'm so glad he didn't listen!
"William came in and said he's a horse who wants something to aim at. He doesn't down tools, but he's a lazy horse and he's like that at home.
"We went the route of big-money handicaps, and it didn't quite happen, so we were looking for this type of race and it's worked out.
"I'm not sure where we'll go next, to be honest. He'll go on any ground, so he'll run right the way through, and I might look at travelling abroad to Dubai or Saudi – he's that type of horse you could go anywhere with."
