Marie’s Diamond shines brightly to win feature handicap

Marie’s Diamond shone brightly on Glasgow Fair Raceday at Ayr Racecourse yesterday responding to a strong ride from Ben Curtis to win the feature race of the day, the Weddings At Western House Handicap.

The Mark Johnston-trained five year-old, sent off at odds of 7-2, was carrying top weight in the six-runner race over a mile and was niggled along three furlongs out, but responded well to pressure and got up in the final strides to touch off the 9-4 favourite Shelir by a head. This was a good performance and he could win again if turned out soon.

Iain Jardine-trained Merricourt, who won at the track last Monday, repeated his success by landing the Staycations At Western House Hotel Handicap at generous odds of 9-1. Andrew Mullen rode the horse off the pace and made his challenge two out and led over a furlong out and kept on to see off the challenge of Tommy G by a length and a quarter.

Another Scottish-trained winner was Amazing Alba, from Alistair Whillans’ yard in Hawick, who won the sixfurlong handicap by a nose from Global Humor with jockey Andrew Mullen getting his mount, returned at 7-1, up in the final strides.

Liverpool fans would have been in the money if they backed Klopp Of The Kop, 13-2, who won the Book Direct At Western House Handicap for trainer David O’meara and jockey Danny Tudhope.

The final race of the afternoon, an apprentice handicap over 1m 5f saw Out Of Breath, 6-4 favourite, come from last to first inside the final furlong and defeat long-time leader Lord Torranaga by a head.

Meanwhile, Bascule can benefit from a significant rise in trip to break his duck in the Free Tips Daily On attheraces. com Novice Median Auction Stakes at Wolverhampton.

Richard Hughes’ three-yearold has improved in his three career starts over a mile, finishing strongly at Windsor last time to be beaten just a neck as the well-backed favourite.

That was Bascule's first race of the year, as well as his turf debut, after two all-weather appearances back in November and December.his pedigree suggests extra yardage will suit him, however, out of a Montjeu mare who won at almost two-and-a-half miles over jumps.

Latest racecourse evidence backs up that theory too, so the move up to a mile-and-a-half here is in order – and, on the basis he is likely to improve, he has strong claims.