Dandy Nicholls strikes gold again

Dandy Nicholls maintained his stranglehold on the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup as Redford provided the Thirsk trainer with his sixth win in the past 11 years .

Frankie Dettori was booked to ride the 14-1 chance earlier in the week and those who took the hint were rewarded as the pair cruised to a stylish victory. Nich-olls saddled the second home for good measure as Victoire De Lyphar, ridden by his son Adrian, took minor honours.

The biggest worry Dettori had was making it to the track on time as he suffered a slight mishap at Stansted Airport trying to catch his booked flight up to Scotland. "I left my passport at home because when I last came up here six months ago a driving licence was all right to get through the airport, but now you need the passport," he said.

"This is one of the great handicaps. I waited 23 years to win it for the first time and now I have won it twice in two years (after Jimmy Styles 12 months ago]."

Nicholls was understandably thrilled. "I love this race and it is great to have won it again. Frankie told me when he rode him in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket that the horse would win the Ayr Gold Cup," said Nicholls.

"But don't forget Victoire De Lyphar, he is only a three-year-old and you will see the best of him next year."

Dettori doubled up on Godolphin's Vesuve (2-1) in the Doonside Cup.

Mick Channon suffered a reverse in the Laundry Cottage Stud Firth of Clyde Stakes 12 months ago when Music Show was turned over but Majestic Dubawi (22-1) righted that wrong.

Richard Fahey and title-chasing jockey Paul Hanagan dominated the three-day meeting and they won the finale, the Ashleigh Construction Handicap, with Cosmic Sun (4-1).

At Hamilton yesterday, La Zamora continued David Barron's fine recent run by taking the feature. The 12-1 shot had to dig deep to hold Waveband by a neck with Ming Meng a nose away third.