Woven has contest at Ayr all stitched up

MICHAEL DODS has had his string firing on all cylinders this month and looks well placed to add to his tally with Woven in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap at Ayr.

The Darlington-based trainer has been banging in the winners across the country in recent weeks, with Azure Blue’s Group Two triumph in the Duke of York Stakes the obvious highlight.

Woven may not be in that class, but he is consistent in his grade and his recent reappearance victory at Doncaster suggested he is is very much as good as ever.

The seven-year-old was rated as high as 95 a few seasons ago and while he has only won three times, including once in Dubai, he has been placed on a further 13 occasions, the highlight being his second in the Ayr Silver Cup.

He made the most of an attractive mark of 83 when recovering from a tardy start to win going away on Town Moor little over a fortnight ago and he is capable of defying a 6lb rise now for his inform stable.

Dods could also be on the scoresheet in the race prior when Berry Edge lines up in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap. The five-year-old was beaten less than two lengths on his return over track and trip earlier this month and has the chance to build on that off the same rating having now blown away the cobwebs.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Bishop’s Crown will not be winning out of turn if he can lift the Tasia Staker Restricted Novice Stakes.

The gelded son of Havana Gold has been placed on three of his four starts to date, most recently filling the runner-up spot in heavy ground at Goodwood on his three-year-old debut. Back on a sounder surface, he appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to break his duck.

Onward Route can strike gold over the jumps at Hexham in the Port Of Blyth Handicap Hurdle.

The nine-year-old won at the Northumberland venue last summer for Rebecca Menzies and added another victory at Uttoxeter to his CV before being given a winter break.

His first run back at Newcastle last month was nothing to write home about, but he bounced back to form when beaten a neck by Fingal’s Hill on his return to Hexham at the start of May.

Onward Route is up 2lb in the weights, but should nevertheless be competitive again in the hands of champion jockey Brian Hughes.