HANAGAN SHOWS CHAMPIONSHIP METTLE

Paul Hanagan continued to make the most of the absence of title rival Silvestre de Sousa as he secured his second treble in the space of 24 hours at Ayr.

Brazilian ace De Sousa briefly hit the top of the jockeys' table last week but while he sits on the sidelines through suspension, the reigning champion is making hay, with three winners at Thirsk on Monday evening followed up with another hat-trick in Scotland.

Hanagan now has 97 winners, seven ahead of his major adversary, and the highlight of his day at Ayr was victory on recent Newmarket winner Swiftly Done, who followed up in some style in the Pimm's Handicap.

Ridden with exaggerated waiting tactics, Declan Carroll's 6-1 chance proved that recent performance at Headquarters to be no fluke.

Still travelling well in arrears turning for home, Hanagan kept his blinkered mount covered up for as long as possible before unleashing him inside the final furlong.

Once the button was pushed, Swiftly Done picked up in some style to beat Music Festival by three and three-quarter lengths.

"He won well again today and Paul has given him a beautiful ride," said Carroll.

"I have him in at Newmarket again later in the week, but we'll have to see how he is. I think he's really a better horse with a bit of a break in between his races.

"He's a nice horse and hopefully he can win again. The horses in general weren't running great earlier in the season and were a bit off colour, but they seem to be coming right now.

"We've always liked this horse and it's nice he's putting it all together."

Hanagan was on the mark again in the Tennent's Lager Handicap as 7-2 shot She's Got The Luck just managed to hold off the unlucky Smart Violetta.

The champion then finished the day on a high and delighted punters as he delivered 15-8 jolly Blown It late to record a cheeky win in the Kopparberg Handicap.

Lady Layla confirmed the promise of an encouraging debut third by going a couple of places better in the EBF/Courvoisier Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Bryan Smart's 11-10 favourite was soon bowling along in front for Tom Eaves and quickened smartly from the turn to put the race to bed, scoring by three and three-quarter lengths from Cosmic Halo.

Smart said: "Tom said she gave him a lovely feel and she hasn't really come off the bridle.

"We'll just see what the handicapper gives her and then we'll make a plan from there.

"I'm really pleased with her as she's quite a leggy filly and I think there's a bit more to come. That's my first winner for Marwan (Dr Koukash, owner) too, which is nice."

Eaves soon went on to complete a double as Ian Semple's Blues Jazz secured his fourth victory on the bounce in the Whyte & Mackay Handicap.

The 11-4 market leader, a winner of an apprentice race at the track on Saturday, was ridden conservatively early on before being produced down the centre of the track and he finished off his race well to deny Emeralds Spirit by three-quarters of a length.

Semple said: "Tom said he'll win again and that he'd done it quite easily in the end. There is another race for him at Hamilton in a couple of weeks."

There was a thrilling finish to the Carling Handicap, with Jim Goldie's Grandad Bill just denying his better fancied stablemate Jonny Delta.

The latter was backed into 7-2 favouritism for his handicap debut and was ridden with restraint by Gary Bartley before flashing home.

In contrast, Grandad Bill was towards the front end the whole way and ground his way up the straight to score by a short-head under Daniel Tudhope.

Goldie said: "Gary rode the race I asked him to ride. He possibly should have come wider, but we're all clever afterwards.

"It was unfortunate he didn't get there, but I'm well pleased with both horses.

"I think Jonny Delta will have learned a lot and will be all the wiser next time."

Another Citizen (2-1 favourite) was all speed when winning the Appletiser Handicap.

Posted in: News