Montaly (16/1) got up in the shadow of the post to snatch victory in a tight finish to the 188Bet Chester Cup on Wednesday.

Montaly redeemed himself in the best possible fashion when powering home late under Oisin Murphy.

In the paddock before the race Montaly kicked out as trainer Andrew Balding's wife Anna Lisa attempted to give Murphy the leg up. He fractionally missed his intended target, but he did kick her bag, smashing her phone in the process.

Yorkidding led from her Mark Johnston-trained stablemate Watersmeet in the straight and looked like landing the spoils after being prominent throughout the extended two and a quarter-mile test.

However, Montaly (16-1) came from the clouds to get up by a neck and give the Balding family a first win in the historic handicap, which was first staged in 1824.

Fun Mac was three-quarters of a length away in third, with Who Dares Wins a further half-length back in fourth.

Murphy said: "It's some job to get this horse to win this race today. You've got to remember he's been off the track a long time and he was on a career-high mark, so credit to Andrew and the team at home.

"When you're riding for Andrew Balding you learn to ride with your head and he puts no pressure on you. It's a very easy thing to do.

"You need the horses and as I've said before, fast horses make fast jockeys."

Balding was represented by his wife Anna Lisa, who said: "Oisin was brilliant again and he's such a special horse.

"He's got a few issues and very nearly kicked me before the race and my phone got smashed. He's not straightforward, so this means even more.

She added: "He's not straightforward, so this means even more. I'm shocked, to be honest, as we thought the ground was going to be too quick for him, but it was absolutely perfect on the day."

The winning trainer was absent, on his way to saddle runners at Chelmsford. "Sadly I didn't get to watch it, I was only able to listen to it," said Balding. "I'm just so pleased for the owners because they've been very patient.

"There's no doubt he's a better horse on soft ground and I was worried it would be too quick today, but they've obviously done a very good job of the watering. He's a decent horse when he gets his ground. He might go for the Queen Alexandra (at Royal Ascot) next as he obviously stays well."

Hughie Morrison, who has started the season in fine form, was over the moon with Fun Mac's effort.

"It was a fantastic run. He was drawn 13, they've gone no gallop and he was conceding weight. At the weights he comes out the best horse.

"He's group-placed and we might look at a Group 3 somewhere at the end of the month."