Havana Grey is muddy marvel in Molecomb at Goodwood

Havana Grey claimed his fourth victory from just six starts with a determined front-running performance in the Bombay Sapphire Molecomb Stakes in ever worsening conditions at Goodwood.

The Group Three contest lost some of its lustre following the withdrawal of American challenger Happy Like A Fool because of the incessant rain, but a competitive field of 10 juveniles did go to post.

The Karl Burke-trained Havana Grey, winner of both the National Stakes and the Dragon Stakes at Sandown this season, was a 7-2 chance in the hands of PJ McDonald.

A smart start enabled the youngster to bag the rail and he galloped on resolutely to score by a length and three-quarters from 5-2 favourite Invincible Army. To Wafij was just a nose away in third.

McDonald, riding his first winner at Goodwood, said: "I've always felt he was a very good horse.

"He disappointed us at Royal Ascot for some reason. I think it's because I took him back and he just likes to bowl along and get on with it.

"He has a great attitude. In the last furlong he really dug deep for me. He's an absolute star. I think he can keep progressing through the year and the way he's won on that ground today, he'll have absolutely no problem stepping up to six furlongs."

Earlier on the card, Mark Johnston and Joe Fanning had combined to land the Better Odds With Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap with Londinium, while Cool Sky claimed victory in an attritional Matchbook Betting Exchange Goodwood Handicap.

The latter, trained by Ian Williams, was a 25-1 shot for a two-and-a-half-mile contest run in testing conditions and driving rain.