Doyle back on track as jockey rides winner for Russell on way to Ayr double

Jockey Alan Doyle rode a double from two rides at Ayr yesterday just days after admitting he reached out to the charity Racing Welfare to save his career after addictions to drink and drugs.

The 28 year-old has now been clean for 16 months and relocated last year to be conditional rider at James Ewart’s Langholm stables.

His first winner yesterday came on the Lucinda Russell-trained Green Vault, sent off the 10-11 favourite for the Visitracingtv.com Conditional

Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. Held up, the six yearold running in his first handicap eased into the lead two out and won by five and three quarter lengths from Fever Roque.

A beaming Doyle said : “It gave me a thrill to ride for Lucinda and her partner Peter Scudamore. The horse did it very well and loved the heavy ground.”

Doyle’s second winner came on the James Ewart-trained bottom weight Cellar Vie in the Every Race Line On Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at odds of 7-2, making all and despite some sketchy jumping winning by a length from Fame Valley.

Irish raider Ailie Rose, 2-1 favourite, won the opening mares’ novices’ hurdle for trainer Stuart Crawford with champion jockey-elect Brian Hughes sending his mount into a clear lead approaching the last flight and crossing the line two and a quarter lengths to the good over Motown Maggie.

Trainer Laura Morgan sent Hasankey on a 600-mile round trip from her Waltham On The

Wolds base and he justified the long journey by landing the novice’ handicap chase under 18-year-old Lewis Dobbs, producing a spectacular leap at the last to seal victory at odds of 3-1.

William Young saddled Ardera Cross, 5-2 favourite, to win at the track for the fifth time when getting back up after the last fence after being headed in the Racing TV Handicap Chase to win by a length and a half from Wheelbahri with jockey Sam Coltherd doing the steering.

Meanwhile, Quoi De Neuf can build on a convincing first win over fences at Taunton a month ago on his return to the Somerset venue for the Simon Stacey Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase today.

The Evan Williams-trained eight-year-old looked as though he had finally got the hang of the bigger obstacles when landing an eight runner contest from Nickolson much easier than the winning margin of three and three-quarter lengths would suggest.

That was his fifth try over fences after a hurdling career in which he showed plenty of promise without getting the rub of the green.

Skandiburg can strike at the second time of asking for Charlotte Fuller after a promising effort at Newbury.

The eight-year-old, formerly with Jamie Snowden, shaped well when fifth to Dolphin Square over three miles in November.

However, Fuller drops Skandiburg back to two miles and three furlongs for the Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle.

It is an interesting move as the gelding has won over a similar distance twice as well as over further.