Montassib runs across Kinross to grab the loot from Chipchase

Montassib claimed the most important victory of his career to date when he narrowly beat Kinross on points in the Jenningsbet Nun Street Newcastle Open Now Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle.

As a two-time Group One winner and multiple Group Two winner, Ralph Beckett’s Kinross brought a touch of star quality to this six-furlong Group Three race. After missing the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, the seven-year-old horse was the favorite at 5-2 odds in his first appearance since October.

Montassib, trained by William Haggas, who made a winning debut at Newcastle four years ago, won the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on his first start in 2024 and then finished an honorable sixth in last month’s Duke of York Stakes.

After Kinross came under pressure shortly after the half-time break, they forced their way forward under Hector Crouch but were unable to resist a flurry of 7-2 shots from Montassiba and Cieren Fallon, who scored by three-quarters of a length.

Montassib wins Chipchase Stakes @NewcastleRaces Down @WilliamHaggas AND @CierenFallonJr3 pic.twitter.com/L6zKMXPFBW

— Ashley Iveson (@AshIveson) June 29, 2024

Haggas, who won the award for the third year in a row after recent triumphs Sense Of Duty and Tiber Flow, said of his latest winner: “I’m delighted to win Group Three with him, he’s a good horse who just needs a bit of work.

“I’m not sure where we go now, but he won’t be going to Goodwood for the Stewards’ Cup. He’d have to take a penalty for the group race now, so I think we’re doomed (in the handicap company).

“I think we’ll stick to points races and go wherever we can get a bit of a kick.

“He will be an outsider but it would be nice to think he can start on Champions Day at Ascot.”

Fallon was quick to claim the double for his boss after Wiltshire won the opening race.

He said: “He’s such a good horse and he’s got that turn of pace when he’s galloping hard. We saw that at Doncaster where he had nowhere to go with half a furlong to go and he took advantage and went for it. It was the same today.

“It didn’t work out the last day at York, I didn’t give him the best rides and I had to make up for that today. I was very confident because Kinross was coming back after such a long break and I thought that if I was going to get him anywhere, it would be in the last half of the internship and everything would go well.

Crouch was pleased with Kinross’ performance on his comeback, saying: “He ran brilliantly, he just tired out in the last half-furlong and was overtaken by an in-form rival.

“He’s not a lazy winner and Kinross is exactly where we want him to be. He’ll step up and have bigger goals. That’ll really push him forward. I was pleased he fought hard, got going and just got tired.