Lanark Silver Bell was a belter!

Just when it looked as if 9/2 favourite Lord Yeats was about to land the big prize, 20/1 outsider Multellie came through to win by a short head on the final stride.

Multellie, ridden by Cam Hardie and trained by Tim Easterby, saw off 13 other horses to land top prize in the one mile four furlongs race offering total prizemoney of £26,000.

Vivien Kyles, chief executive at Hamilton Park Racecourse, said: “Once again the Lanark Silver Bell resonated with punters at Hamilton Park.

“The evening is of huge significance to the local area and the historic trophy looked resplendent in the Lanarkshire sun, as racegoers were treated to a fantastic evening of racing and entertainment.”

One of the world’s oldest sporting trophies, the Lanark Silver Bell has traditionally been described as a gift of William the Lion to the Royal Burgh of Lanark in 1160.

Friday saw it contested for the ninth time in 38 years having been run at Lanark Racecourse until 1977 and reinstated at Hamilton Park in 2008.

The six-race card on Friday also included a memorable success for Carluke trainer Keith Dalgleish, whose rank outsider Amy Blair, a 50/1 shot, led from start to finish in the one-mile third race.

Belstane Racing Stables supremo Keith leads the 2016 Hamilton Park Trainers’ Championship.

Among the spectators at Hamilton Park was 2016 Lanark Lord Cornet Gordon Jess and his fellow members.