A WINNER FOR DAME JUDI DENCH

Monday November 5, 2007
DAME JUDI LANDS A WINNER AT AYR
THE curtain came down on the 2007 flat racing season at Ayr Racecourse on Saturday with the John Smith's Raceday producing some great finishes.
One of the country's best loved actresses Dame Judi Dench had a winner with Smokey Oakey (11/4), trained by Mark Tompkins and ridden by Paul Mulrennan in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap. Unfortunately Dame Judi is in rehearsals and had to watch the action from her Sussex home as her horse romped home six lengths clear of Emerald Bay (12/1).
The most exciting contest was the John Smith's Nursery Handicap won by Paint Stripper (4/1) trained by Wilf Storey and ridden by Dominic Fox. The winner held on by a short head from Red Skipper (8/1).
Carluke based trainer Ian Semple, who will shortly retire, had his last winner as a trainer at Ayr with the highly impressive Doon Haymer (pictured above) in the opening race on the card, the John Smith's Maiden Stakes. The 5/2 joint favourite won by three and a half lengths in the hands of Tom Eaves from Ninefineirishmen (10/1).
Championship chasing jockey Jamie Spencer had a blank from six rides and his best was a second on 9/1 shot Pieter Brueghel in the John Smith's No Nonsense Handicap. The winner was Paris Bell (7/1) under David Allan by a length and a half.
The best ride of the afternoon was executed by Micky Fenton aboard Suits Me (5/2) in the John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap. The front runner held off Hawkit, in the colours of Kilwinning Rangers supreme Alan McLuckie, by three quarters of a length.
Gay Kelleway has never trained a winner at Ayr but changed all that when Mugeba (9/2), under Micky Fenton landed the John Smith's Fillies Handicap by half a length from Eternal Legacy (9/2).
The final race of the flat season at Ayr was the John Smith's At Ayr Racecourse Handicap and this went to Little Bob (12/1) ridden by Graham Gibbons to beat Thunderwing (10/1) by a head.
Ayr's first jumps meeting of the season takes place on Monday November 26, with the first race at 1.10 pm. Advance tickets are on sale with 10 % discount for single bookings or 20 % for parties of 20 or more. Both offers are subject to bookings being made seven or more days in advance. Simply go online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk or call 0870-8505666.

A WINNER FOR DAME JUDI DENCH

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