Jim Goldie and Lucinda Russell are double winners at Ayr Racecourse

Mar 18 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

COURSE specialists Jim Goldie and Lucinda Russell saddled two winners each at Ayr's two day meeting last week.

Lucinda had a winner each day - Innominate (7/4 fav) in the J2O Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase on Friday and Raysrock (11/10 fav) in the Kilmarnock Standard Handicap Chase on Saturday - both ridden by Campbell Gillies.

Jim's double came on Saturday, courtesy of Stormin Exit (2/1) in the Ayrshire Post Handicap Chase for the Hugh Barclay Challenge Trophy and Jonny Delta (5/1) in the Irvine Herald Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race. James Reveley was on board both horses.

Goldie was denied a Saturday treble when his well backed Circus Clown (2/1 fav) was touched off by Kempski (7/1). The Rayson Nixon owned horse was gaining his sixth course win and was given an enterprising ride by young Paul Gallagher to hold on by a head.

Irish trained horses were in good form. County Tyrone based James Lambe had a double on Friday with Drumbaloo (2/1) in the Bacardi Originals Maiden Hurdle and Imperial Breeze (8/1) in the Guinness Novices Handicap Hurdle - both ridden by Robert Colgan.

And Stuart Crawford made the crossing from Larne to score with Trucking Along (9/1), ridden by Campbell Gillies in the opening Award Winning Western House Hotel Novices Hurdle on Saturday.

Easter Vic (16/1), in the hands of James O'Farrell, landed the Carlsberg Handicap Hurdle on Friday for Dundonald based Robert Goldie while top jockey Graham Lee rode Cool Mission (4/6 fav) to win the Corona Beginners Chase also on Friday.

Dumfries trainer Andrew Parker had a nice winner on the opening day in Shooting Times (10/1), with James Halliday riding, in the Coca Cola Handicap Hurdle for the James Barclay Trophy.

Ayr is now gearing up for the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival on April 15 and 16. Details from 01292 264179 or www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk