Dubai: Dubai-owned Heavy Metal was cruelly denied a fifth victory of the season when narrowly beaten by Red Avenger in the Betfred Mile at Glorious Goodwood on Friday.

Trained by championship-leading handler Mark Johnston for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Darley-bred son of Exceed And Excel ran an absolute blinder under Joe Fanning, before he was caught on the line by the eventual winner.

In the end, the three-pound penalty he was carrying cost him another deserving triumph following wins at Brighton, Redcar, Haydock and Ascot.

Red Avenger, the mount of Jimmy Fortune, scored by a short-head verdict in what was a absolutely a thrilling finish.

Magic City, ridden by champion jockey Richard Hughes was a neck behind in third, while Godolphin’s Steeler was fourth with William Buick,

Fortune was delighted with the result and told Channel 4 Racing: “I wasn’t sure I’d won but he’s certainly game.

“Putting the blinkers on him worked very well, we fancied him. He’s only just won today but it’s a very competitive handicap, today was his day.”

Winning trainer Ed Dunlop said that the addition of the blinkers made the difference between winning and losing.

“I’ve noticed Aidan O’Brien fits a lot of his War Front’s [Red Avenger’s sire] with blinkers so I thought we’d put a pair on and it made a huge difference.

“I thought we were beaten but finally it went well.

“He loves fast ground, like all War Fronts, and we’ve always thought he was a good horse.

“Today he had it in his favour, fast ground, blinkers, he’s a pretty good horse.”

Meanwhile, Godolphin’s Encke, making his first appearance for nearly two years, finished second to Pether’s Moon in the Group 3 Coutts Glorious Stakes.

On his last start in September, 2012, the five-year-old won the Group 1 St Leger, over an extended 14 furlongs at Doncaster.

Encke looked a little race rusty but stayed on strongly to finish a length and quarter behind the winner who was ridden by Richard Hughes,

His trained Charlie Appleby said his runner was far from disgraced.

“I’m really pleased. He travelled well, had a blow and he stayed on to the end. It was his first run for nearly two years so you have to be happy.

“Ideally maybe a mile and six [furlongs] is his trip so we’ll take a look at the Irish St Leger, or perhaps the Grand Prix de Deauville.”

Hughes said of his winner: “I put the gun to his head as we were taking on horses who might need a run.

“You think you’re going better than you are, he doesn’t find a great deal. He’s got Australia [Caulfield Cup] written all over him.”

Winning trainer Hannon added “He looked like he didn’t come down the hill very well and Hughesie had to get after him.

“Then he looked like he was beaten, then he came on the bridle. Without sounding arrogant, he’s capable of a little bit more than that.

“I don’t think this track really suits him. He’s a nice, big horse and there are a lot of options for him abroad. Caulfield Cups and Japan Cups, things like that. We don’t usually get many that like this sort of trip.”

Earlier in the afternoon William Buick rode a strong race aboard Wannabe Yours to defeat Hors De Combat in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.