Hotazhell outbattled Delacroix to claim the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.

Jessica Harrington’s colt was ridden by Shane Foley as an 11/1 shot in a field of eight for the Group 1.

He always looked a threat and began to lock horns with the favourite Delacroix in the final furlong, putting his head down to claim victory on the line as the first two pulled clear of the rest.

Hotzahell shaded Delcroix by a nose, with four and three-quarter lengths back to Wimbledon Hawkeye in third.

Foley said: "He's a very good, tough horse. We all thought he wanted a bit of slow ground but this was probably a bit too slow for him.

"He nearly bucked me off going down to the start but that's just him. We work hard every day and we've had a very good year but it's been a while since we had a Group 1, it's a couple of years since the [Irish] Oaks now, and they're important, to be coming and winning on these big days.

"And what a trainer that woman, Mrs Harrington, is. Kate is a big part of the team, it's a big team effort and a lot goes on behind the scenes and she's a legend to work for and a legend to ride for.

"I had a hip replacement operation a couple of years ago and it's taken a while to get to full health again but I'm fighting fit now and have a good few years left in me."

Harrington added: "He's a smashing horse. He's very, very tough and loves a battle. I don't think he'll ever win races by large margins. He loves just looking at the other horses and saying 'I'm better than you'. He's a little bit feisty, he isn't called Hotazhell for nothing."

Looking ahead, the trainer said: "We'll start off over a mile and see how he develops over the winter. I think he'll probably get a mile-and-a-quarter, I'm not sure he'll get a mile-and-a-half but you never know. He's a very relaxed horse and he just might."

Bred at Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, Hotazhell is by Too Darn Hot (by Dubawi) out of a Danehill Dancer mare who won a maiden for Roger Varian.

Hotazhell was sold at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 70,000gns to Eddie Linehan's Lackendarra Stables. Linehan re-sold the horse at this year's Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale for 200,000gns to owners Silverton Hill.

The same owners raced Pathfork with Jessica Harrington and that colt was the trainer's first Group 1 winner when he landed the National Stakes at the Curragh in 2010.