Bailey in double form at Ayr

Cheshire-based Alan Bailey loves his Ayr raids and as usual he picked up the expenses and more when completing a 41-1 double with the gallant Sarn and Galy Bay at the Scottish course today.

Sarn won a seller at the Western meeting here and, taking on stronger opposition in the Renault Kangoo Van Nursery, was given a superb ride by George Duffield who coaxed that vital bit more out of him in the last few strides when it looked as if Muffit had just taken his measure.

Bailey admitted that he had not backed the gelding but wished he had followed the advice of the lucky owner, soccer agent Willie Mackay. The former explained: 'I did not have a bet because his best form was on better ground.

'But Willie certainly did. He said Sarn was the fittest horse in the field and when I asked how he knew, he said he had run more than the others so he must be _ and he must have been right'!

Half an hour later, Bailey was back in the winner`s enclosure after the seller to greet Galy Bay who had just got the better of East Cape under a determined ride from Danny Wright who however picked up a seven-day suspension (Oct 25 to 27 and Oct 29 to Nov 1) for using his whip with excessive frequency and not giving his mount time to respond.

Wright is battling away in his bid to re-establish himself in Britain after a spell in the United Stakes and Bailey, who retained Galy Bay without a bid added: 'Danny is a very good lad and all he wants is the chance to show what he can do _ he will certainly do for me.'

Julie Camacho will hand in her trainer`s licence at the end of January, but she is still turning out the winners and is hoping that Dancing Bay can end her career on the Turf in style by winning the November Handicap at Doncaster for her.

Dancing Bay had to work hard to get the better of Dancing Phantom to win the New Renault Traffic Showcase for the second year running, but he was well ridden by apprentice Darren Williams who was recording his third winner of the two-day meeting.

Miss Camacho said afterwards: 'We wanted to go for the Cesarewitch with him, but he has been disappointing _ it seemed he had not been getting home in his races so we were going to drop him back to a mile and a half, but this race (one mile and five furlongs) came along and we decided to have another go at it.

'I would like to run him in the November Handicap now but it is up to the owners, Elite Racing, because if he had been beaten today he would have gone hurdling, though not trained by me.'

She went on: 'I will keep ticking along on the all weather until my licence is up and that will be it.'

Mark Johnston withdrew his three runners at Leicester because there were no boxes available on the course, but there were no such problems here and he got on the score sheet with 20-1 chance Lord Pierce, ridden by Keith Dalgleish.

The Middleham trainer also saddled fourth placed Double Spice and his wife Deirdre explained: 'I never look at the betting, but perhaps it was because he had not run for a long time and apparently there were a few fancied horses.

'Keith said that Lord Piece was running very green, but he did not know he was so far in front and didn`t want to ease down anyway because the horse might have stopped and thought he had done enough.'

Marcus Tregoning`s splendid run of success continues unabated and having also sent out a winner at Leicester, was on the mark here with Proserpine who opened her account at the fourth attempt in the European Breeders Fund Linfern Maiden Fillies` Stakes.

Proserpine made all under a well-judged ride from Darryll Holland who was gaining his first success for the stable and travelling head lad Peter West explained: 'She should have won at Salisbury, but she was on the wrong side and had no company.

'We were a bit worried about the ground, but she is such a laid-back filly and is from a good family.'

David Barker`s Petongski supplemented a Nottingham win in the Renault Master Handicap (Division One) and jockey Fergal Lynch reckons the gelding can complete the hat-trick.