Slade slays them at Ayr Racecourse

Jul 25 2008

A HEALTHY crowd witnessed a thrilling finish to the feature race at Ayr Racecourse's Glasgow Fair Festival on Monday as 10/1 chance Look Busy came with a late burst to win by half a length from Fullandby (12/1).

The £40,000 Giles Insurance Heritage Handicap attracted a quality field of 16 runners and it was the Alan Berry trained three-year-old, winner of the Land O'Burns Fillies Listed Race at Ayr last month, that prevailed under a great ride from apprentice Slade O'Hara.

It looked as if Fullandby was going to win the race for the second year in a row until Look Busy got busy and weaved home. Trainer Michael Mullineaux likes to land a surprise or two at the Craigie track and he did it again in the Giles Insurance Corporate Handicap with Methaaly scoring under Eddie Ahern at odds of 20/1 over Yorkshire Blue (Gary Bartley), a 16/1 chance.

Hawick born jockey Greg Fairley is also something of a course specialist and landed a double. The first leg came on board Weatherstaff for his guv'nor Mark Johnston in the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes. The 3/1 second favourite held off Fitz Flyer (5/4 fav) by a neck.

Greg's second came in the last, the racinguk.tv Handicap, aboard Embra (6/1) for trainer Tim Etherington. The three year old gelding beat joint favourite Jaconet (2/1) by a length.

Only one favourite won and that was Leonid Glow (15/8 fav) in the Bud and Joe Pieroni Memorial Handicap. Jockey PJ McDonald held the horse up before coming late and fast to win by three and three quarter lengths from Ubenkor (11/2).

Trainer Peter Monteith saddled Signalman (16/1) to win under a good ride from Royston Ffrench in the Giles Insurance Premier Handicap.

The WaterAid Ladies Night 9th August Handicap produced a good finish with 7/1 chance Whaston, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Neil Callan landing the spoils by a neck form Red Skipper (8/1).

Another healthy crowd of 4,400 was more than 600 up on last year's corresponding attendance. Ayr's next meeting is Ladies Night on August 9.

Discounts are available on advance bookings - call 0870-8505666 or go online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk