Back in Scotland...

Back on Scottish soil and the weather has been doing the game no favours up here. Soft ground prevails as in most other places, it has even rained in Yarmouth since my visit. Perth's two day jump meeting in the first week of July was lost, and day one of the Glasgow Fair meeting at Hamilton went west.

AYR - July 8th and 9th

Ayr's two day meeting went ahead on soft ground.

Most interest for the future surrounds the opening contest, a decent looking 7 furlong juvenile maiden. This was won by previously promising ELNADANCER, as expected benefiting from a step up in trip and franking the form of Tickle Time from the previous meeting. He should go on to take better races than Class 5 tag of this race. A mile will be well within his compass this term.
The other four are all worth putting inn the notebook, headed by Richard Fahey's filly SIMPLY SHINING who took time to get going but was picking up nicely in the closing stages. She should have no trouble finding a race before long. She should stay a mile.
Favourite BURNING BLAZE tried to match the favourite but gave way in the final furlong having raced a bit keenly early on. He wasn't disgraced and will come on for this run.
As is the way with many Mark Johnston runners, HUNTING RIGHTS bowled along in front and kept on once headed if unable to match the pace of the first three close home. The trainer's horses are just a little off their best at this time, so there's reason to believe that this American bred animal, related to a US Grade 1 winner, can produce better.
ZADIG looked a bit green, she was ponied to the start, but she showed enough to suggest she can make a mark in easier company in time.

GONINODAETHAT finally broke his duck in the 7f 50yards Class 5 Handicap. He's always hinted that he's capable of winning but it's taken time for the penny to drop. There are plenty of opportunities for him and he should add to this win before long. SABRATHA came with a wet sail late on to wrest second place from pacesetter Emeralds Spirit. Her best form has been with cut in the ground which should give her chances in the coming weeks.

One of the better winners on the card was SILVERY MOON in the 1 mile Class 4 Handicap. He made it 2 out of 2 here, galloping on strongly at the finish. He likes soft ground and a galloping track. PROPHESY ran a decent race in second considering he's probably better at 7 furlongs, so could win again if dropped back down in trip.

THE OIL MAGNATE was a comfortable winner of the Class 5 1m 5f handicap and looks a fair bit better than the 68 mark he ran off here. He's had back problems and now they are cleared he should show his true worth. One to note in a higher grade as he was rated in the 90s two years back.

The second day was rather low key and I didn't find too many strong pointers.

HEAD SPACE threw a way his chance in the feature sprint handicap, ducking at the mown strip the line and almost unseating his rider. Ruth Carr will now do some therapeutic work after getting the stable lawn mower out! This one is better than the third place here suggests and is progressing.
MAYOMAN just held the fast finishing HAAJES though both would have been behind Head Space if the latter had seen his race out.

THE NIFTY FOX won his Class 5 six furlong handicap nicely and is in a decent run of form.

LUCTOR EMERGO stayed on to hold off HAWDYERWHEESHT in a 1m 2f Class 6 handicap, but the latter lugged in behind his opponent and gifted him the contest. Those behind are much of a muchness and the feeling is that these two will not make appealing betting material in the foreseeable future.

Lightly raced filly ODYSSEY won the closing apprentice handicap for Michael Dods moved up to the extended seven furlongs. The third Mick Slates has won since, admittedly in a monsoon at Catterick, but overall the form reads well enough to suggest that the winner can follow up.

Yarmouth follow up...

HASOPOP was a convincing winner of a 3 runner conditions race at Newmarket this afternoon, following up his Yarmouth win. The ground was heavy and the form is difficult to weigh up, but he showed a fine attitude and can continue his progression.