Lucinda Russell saddles three winners at John Smith's Raceday at Ayr

Nov 9 2012 by Mike Wilson, Ayrshire Post

John Smith’s Raceday at Ayr on Saturday became ladies day with Scotland’s ­leading trainer Lucinda Russell saddling three winners and jockey Lucy Alexander riding a double.

Lucinda’s treble came in the final three races.

Prosecco (11/4), ridden by Peter Buchanan, won the John Smith’s No Nonsense Handicap Chase, Tap Night (6/4 fav), also with Buchanan riding, took the John Smith’s Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle and Rhymers Stone (7/2) won the Bob and Jeanette Crane 25th Anniversary National Hunt flat race under Craig Nichol.

The rising star of the jockey scene, Lucy Alexander, 22, rode Secret Desert (11/1) to land the Topstaff Employment Handicap Chase for Ferdy Murphy and followed that with a win on Daasij (7/1) in the Plumbstore Handicap Hurdle for her dad Nick Alexander.

A crowd of more than 3500 enjoyed the first jumps action of the year.

The biggest gamble saw Overquest land the John Smith’s Handicap Chase for trainer Chris Grant and jockey Timmy Murphy at odds of 11/4, after trading at 30/1 earlier in the day.