Dalgleish at the double

● Beechwood Ella and Qasr put trainer on 39-winner mark

In-form trainer Keith Dalgleish landed a double – in the first and last races – at Ayr yesterday to take him to the 39-winner mark on the Flat for the year.

The impressive Beechwood Ella, a 7-1 chance, having only her second run, got up by a neck from Freed From Desire to win the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes, over 7f, under a fine ride by Tony Hamilton.

In the final race, a 1m 2fhandicap, Qasr showed a lot of determination to get back up to win by a neck from French Resistance after being headed.

Ridden by Joe Fanning, the 13-2 chance could be an even better horse if he learns to settle.

That win also signalled a double for jockey Fanning who had an armchair ride on Curly Girl, trained in Ireland by John James Feane, to win Division One of the Weddings At Western House Hotel Handicap over 7f.

The most exciting race of the afternoon was the Western House Hotel Handicap and, in a bunch finish, the Jim Goldie-trained Eternalist, 8-1, prevailed by a head from Kibaar with Our Place in Loule a further neck back in third.

The winner survived a stew- ards’ inquiry to keep the race.

Top Irish jumps trainer Gordon elliott turned his attention to the Flat and won the Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap over 1m with Markham, 5-1, ridden by Connor Beasley.

The feature race of the day, the Ayrshire Cancer Support James Bond Ball Handicap over 1m 2f was won by course specialist King’s Gift, trained by Michael Dods and ridden by Callum Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, Incentive looks set to take the Sky Sports Racing Launching In 2019 Fillies’ Handicap at Ffos Las today for the second year in succession, writes Glendale.

Stuart Kittow’s four-yearold registered her only victory to date in this six-furlong contest 12 months ago and she will encounter similarly testing ground on her return to the Welsh circuit. She has run well in defeat on each of her three starts this term, placing at Windsor and Goodwood before finishing a creditable fifth on her most recent appearance at Kempton.