KEEPAX TAKES SALISBURY OPENER

Keepax finished off his race to good effect to snatch a last-gasp victory in division one of the Bathwick Tyres Maiden Auction Stakes at Salisbury.

The 14-1 chance had been well beaten in a warm Newbury maiden on his racecourse introduction but found life easier stepped up to seven furlongs.

Dutch Master looked the likely winner once battling his way to the lead, but Chris Wall's Keepax really hit top gear in the closing stages, with Chris Catlin punching the juvenile out to the line to collect by a neck.

Medieval Bishop ran out a determined winner of division two in the hands of Nicky Mackay.

Making his first start for David Elsworth, the 16-1 chance looked booked for second when 2-1 favourite No Compromise came past him under Steve Drowne towards the stands' side rail.

Neither Drowne nor Mackay picked up their stick in the closing stages and Medieval Bishop came back in game fashion to get the verdict by a nose.

With the new whip rule having come into force today, meaning Flat jockeys are only allowed to hit their mounts seven times during the race and five times inside the final furlong, Mackay admitted he lost count.

"A furlong out, I wasn't sure how many times I'd hit him, so I only ended up hitting him four times. It actually probably did me a favour as he ran on towards the end," Mackay told Racing UK.

"My horse was off the bridle quite a bit out as he was quite green and it is quite windy out there.

"I gave him a flick to get him running and then I gave him another smack.

"Then I started rowing away and the furlong pole came so I gave him one more and then I lost count."

There was another surprise result in division one of the Bathwick Tyres Maiden Fillies' Stakes as 33-1 shot Afnoon emerged victorious.

John Dunlop's youngster was beaten out of sight on her course and distance debut but clearly derived plenty from the experience.

Tadhg O'Shea had to get to work well over a furlong out but his mount responded generously to score by a length and a quarter from Scarlet Belle.

Richard Hannon's Operettist got the better of stablemate Traveller's Tales in division two.

Richard Hughes settled the 3-1 favourite in the middle of the pack in the early stages, while Ryan Moore was slightly more positive on Traveller's Tales.

The stable companions had it between them heading inside the last half a furlong, but Hughes always looked confident, pushing his mount out towards the line to win by a head.

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