GUTSY WIN FOR RAWYAAN AT LEICESTER

Rawyaan dug deep to defy a 7lbs penalty in doughty fashion in an EBF Novice Stakes  in a tight triple photo finish over seven furlongs at Leicester on Tuesday.

Having shown clear signs of inexperience on both his previous starts he sped out of the stalls and into the lead like a hardy old sprinter and it took Jim Crowley the best part of two furlongs to get him back and settled just off the pace.

With the favourite Baileysgutfeeling then making a bold bid for glory the task for Rawyaan look a tough one and at first he struggled to engage top gear as the race began to come to the boil.

But he kept finding for pressure and kept on willingly to edge narrowly ahead close home before holding off the newcomer Pavlodar by a short head with the favourite a neck away third.

Now that Rawyaan has built on his recent success at Brighton his trainer will be seeking more options for the progressive grey colt by Markaz.