3 for the Irish at Ayr Irish-based trainers enjoyed notable success at Ayr on Tuesday, supplying three of the seven winners on the card. The trend began when James Lambe's Cinder Rua (4-1) broker her duck at the 25th time of asking in the Cotter's Edge Mares' Maiden Hurdle. Ridden confidently by Liam McKenna, she picked off the odds-on favourite Conquer Gold to win by four lengths. Lambe said: "She's been a little frustrating, but ran well in defeat including in a 15 grand chase at Fairyhouse. We knew she was capable of winning a race, it's just taken a while for everything to slot into place. "Three miles on heavy ground, I just told Liam to take his time and he did what he was told. "She's entitled to travel keen so we could come back in trip, hopefully she can build on this. She's won so it's great for everyone. "Liam is based with Harry Fry for more opportunities and he's been very good to him." The unheralded Neil McKnight struck with his first runner at the Scottish track as Master Ruffit won the first division of the Annick Gardens "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle. Sent off at 16-1, the eight-year-old mixes his time under Rules and in point-to-points. "We've been past a few times but finally made it here, we tried to come to the last meeting but it was abandoned," McKnight told Racing UK. "He's been pointing but had a leg injury and missed a couple of years. "He's a hard horse to keep fit so we used pointing for that. "I got my licence when I was 20 or 21 but it took me a while to get my first winner. It's brilliant here, they've looked after us really well." The excellent day for the Irish was completed when Art Lord (7-1) won the Elliston Park Handicap Chase for Dublin handler Karl Thornton and jockey Graham Watters.
