Allan impressed as Dubai Horizon stamps his authority on Ayr feature
The famous blue silks of Godolphin were carried to victory in the the Western House Handicap – the feature race at Ayr – when Dubai Horizon was a fine winner under Irvineborn jockey David Allan.
The Saeed bin Suroortrained four year-old was making only his sixth racecourse appearance but shed his maiden tag at odds of 3-1 and won with authority and his rider said afterwards: “I was impressed with him today he has a high head carriage but did it well.”
There was a double on the day for leading trainer Richard Fahey with 7-4 chance Roderick winning the opening novice stakes and Militia (8-1) powering to victory in the Parkdean Resorts Handicap. Both horses were ridden by Tony Hamilton.
Hawick-based trainer Alistair Whillans was on the scoresheet with Royal Shaheen (9-1) who won the Sandylands Holiday Park Handicap over a mile with something to spare after a canny ride from Graham Lee.
Trainer’s son Ewan Whillans said afterwards: “The key to him is the easier ground. Graham gave him a good ride and we could turn him out at Carlisle again next week.”
The longest race of the afternoon the Sundrum Castle Handicap over 2m 1f was won by Question Of Faith, trained by Martin Todhunter and ridden by Callum Rodriguez.
This horse has won over hurdles at Ayr in the past and relished the conditions to justify 5-2 favouritism.
Peter Bowen is after more Perth success in the feature race at the Scone track tonight.
The Pembrokeshire trainer, whose long-distance raiders undertakeamammothroundtrip of nearly 800 miles, is represented by Lotus Pond in the £15,000 Heineken UK Handicap Chase.
Bowen, successful in the same race with Mumbles Head in 2013, said: “He was point to pointing with our son Mickey and has won three from three since coming to us. The trip won’t be a problem and, as always, it’s worth coming all the way up for the prize money.”
Conceding weight all round is the Nicky Richards-trained Ballyboker Breeze, a winner at Aintree in June while Petrou represents Dan and Harry Skelton who are leading the way in the trainer’s and jockey’s championship tables respectively. Brian Hughes and Donald Mccain are a newly-formed partnership to fear and they team up with firsttime blinkered Knock House.
Gordon Elliott is doublehanded with Flaxen Flare and Swingbridge, with the latter partnered by champion jockey Richard Johnson.
Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning handler Elliott has nine runners on the card starting with Youghal By The Sea under Johnson in the opening Mackie’s Cream Of The Crop Novices’ Hurdle.