MALTON'S John Wainwright said he was overjoyed after Riquewihr held on in a thrilling finish to win the Hearthstead Homes Stakes at York Racecourse.

The seven-year-old struck for home inside the final furlong but had to stave off a strong challenge from Sake, with Neon Blue close behind.

Sake and Riquewihr crossed the line in unison but it was to the Kennythorpe handler that the decision was given.

It was a fabulous reversal in form for the 20-1 shot, who had finished fifth of 12 at Beverley on her previous outing earlier in the month, and had only one top three finish in her last six starts.

But Riquewihr, a winner of five races, was held up early on before striding forward, repelling her challengers and, in so doing, giving dual-purpose jockey Paddy Aspell his first winner at York.

"I am really pleased, especially on my local track. The longer trip and different tactics probably helped - Beverley was very testing ground last week even though it's getting softer here," Wainwright said.

"It is not training them to win at the moment, it's training them where to go on the track because the ground is so indifferent. But it is brilliant."

Westow's Paul Midgley also saddled his first winner at York when Highland Warrior swooped from the back to win the Fit As A Butcher's Dog Stakes.

Elsewhere, the opening Hovis Maiden Stakes was far from without incident. Climaxtackledotcom, trained by Sheriff Hutton's Mick Easterby, bolted before the off and was withdrawn, while newcomers to the track Manuka Bee and Flaxton - the latter handled by Warthill's Mel Brittain - showed extreme reluctance to get into the stalls.

When proceedings finally got under way, Boroughbridge's Kevin Darley on board the joint favourite Transmission, fetched his mount all alone on the near side of the track during the seven furlong contest but could not withstand the pace of Donegal and finished six lengths adrift in second.

The showpiece Cuisine de France Summer Stakes went to Aidan O'Brien's Theann, who hit the front late on and held off Gloved Hand by half-a-length to land the £28,390 first prize.

European Dream, with a late run inside the final furlong, surged through on the outside to beat Tadcaster trainer Tom Tate's Greek Envoy by half a length in the John West Tuna Stakes, while 9-4 favourite Mutajarred was an easy nine lengths winner of the Mr Kipling Exceedingly Good Stakes.