Lacklustre day for Dettori

Frankie Dettori made his first visit to Hamilton for well over five years, but could only finish second on Brut – his first of two rides.

The champion jockey could not quite provide his legions of followers with the winner they hoped for as Brut found Brave Bear (9-2) too good in the Azure Handicap.

Dettori had Brut smartly away and disputing the lead, but Kevin Darley sent the Tim Easterby-trained Brave Idea to the front and kept her up to her work to hold Brut’s rally by a length in the five-furlong dash.

The popular Italian posed for photographs and signed autographs before the race, and said: “I have been to Ayr and Musselburgh in recent years, but it is a long time since I have been to Hamilton.”

Dettori partnered the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Cartography in the Sam Collingwood-Cameron Conditions Stakes, but he was out of luck and they finished only fourth to Ruby Rocket (4-1).

Hughie Morrison’s charge made all the running in the hands of Paul Hanagan, forging one and three quarter lengths clear of One Putra in the closing stages with Johnston’s Diamond third.

Hanagan said: “This is my first winner for Mr Morrison – and I am not sure that I have ever ridden for him before.

“Ruby Rocket travelled well from the start and I did not want to disappoint her, so I let her stride along and she quickened up well when I asked her.”

Darley rode One Putra as his booked jockey Philip Robinson failed to make it to the course after his plane to Glasgow was diverted to Manchester.