Crowds flock to Ayr Racecourse

Jun 26 2008 Ayrshire Post

AYR Racecourse’s double header June meeting was a huge hit with almost 8000 attending the first ever Saints and Sinners Racenight to be held at the Craigie track on Friday.

And a further 6600 enjoyed the Saturday afternoon action.

The meeting got off a real ‘flying’ start for Racecourse chairman Alan Macdonald and his wife Camille when her horse Forrest Flyer (3/1) won the opening race on Friday, the Natwest Life Apprentice Handicap by eight lengths from Calzaghe (9/2).

Trained by Linda Perratt and ridden by Lance Betts, the four-year-old led from start to finish.

Newcomer Prize Point (11/8), in the hands of Fergal Lynch, scored by a length and three quarters from Saif Al Fahad (7/1) with evens favourite Woolston Ferry third.

Lynch made it a double when steering Chin Wag (3/1) to a cosy two length win over Ensign’s Trick (33/1) for trainer Jim Goldie in the RBS Bancassurance Handicap.

Recent course second Pavershooz (3/1) went one better in the Walter Scott Saints & Sinners Challenge Cup when holding off Leading Edge (11/2) by three quarters of a length for trainer Noel Wilson and jockey Darragh O’Donohoe.

There was a third Scottish triumph on the night when Shy Glance (3/1 fav) for trainer Peter Monteith and jockey Neil Brown won the Natwest Handicap from Grandad Bill (4/1).

Other winners on Friday were Ninefineirishmen (7/4) and Flying Bantam (6/1).

Saturday’s opener was won by the Mick Channon trained 11/4 favourite Summon Up Theblood ridden by Daryll Holland.

The Scottish News of The World EBF Land O’Burns Fillies Stakes, a Listed Race, went to 5/2 joint favourite Look Busy trained by Alan Berry and ridden by Irvine born Danny Tudhope.

The Scottish Sun Miss Scotland Handicap saw Birkside, trained by Declan Craroll and ridden by David Allan win at 6/1 from Record Breaker (2/1 fav).

Jockey David Allan went on to clinch a three timer courtesy of Maison Dieu (11/2) and Discanti (4/7 fav).

Ayr general manager William Gorol said: “It was a tremendous two days racing and to have crowds like we did was fantastic. We have really established this two day meeting now as our third biggest of the year behind the Coral Scottish Grand National and John Smith’s Ayr Gold Cup.”

Ayr’s next race meeting is the totesport Family Day on Sunday July 6.