Richards at the double

Nicky Richards is well on course to beat his best seasonal total of 51 after a double at Ayr with Harmony Brig and Camden Bella put him on 36 winners for the campaign.

The former proved far too good for his rivals when romping home in the testing conditions to take the first division of the Membership At Ayr “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle.

Richards’ charge looked head and shoulders above the opposition on form and so it proved as the 2-9 favourite made all the running under Tony Dobbin to beat Kilmackilloge by three and a half lengths.

“He’s got good form round Haydock against a couple of black-type horses and Tony said he was always going to win but he was absolutely hating the soft ground – it’s desperate out there,” said the Greystoke trainer.

“Anyway we’ll get him educated and try and pick another little race up. A couple of wins will do his confidence good before he goes chasing.”

The brace for the trainer, and Dobbin, was completed when Camden Bella (4-1) outstayed Diklers Rose in the closing stages of the Wee Dram Mares’ Only Novices’ Hurdle to land the spoils by two lengths.

“Things are ticking away grand so long may it continue,” said Richards.

“I’ve got a good team of lads who work hard for me. It’s down to everybody connected to the team, it’s not just me.

“We had 51 last season and hopefully we are on target to beat that. You just go from day to day and try and get as many as you can by the end of the season.”

And of Camden Bella, he added: “She’s not the biggest, but she’s from a good staying family so everything pointed to her staying this two and a half miles.

“She probably would have won at Sedgefield last time but her jumping let her down. I should think she’ll win again and could make a nice handicapper.

“She’s won a bumper, she’s won a hurdle and she’ll make a good broodmare when the time comes.”

On a bad day for the bookmakers Roman Ark, the best-backed horse of the afternoon, prevailed by three and a half lengths from Junior Des Ormeaux in the Happy New Year Beginners’ Chase.

But Graham Lee had to work hard on the Malcolm Jefferson-trained 8-11 shot to get him home after he looked like trotting up on the final bend.

“Graham said he thought he might be better over two miles on this ground because he was just running away a bit,” Jefferson said.

“He looked as though he was going to scoot up, but getting towards home he was maybe just coming to the end of his tether on this ground. Two and a half would be alright on good ground.

“He jumped absolutely brilliantly and I’ll try and get a little more practice into him.

“But I’ll not be frightened to take something on with him over two miles if things are right.”

Oliverjohn landed a hefty gamble in the First Foot Handicap Chase to leave the bookies reeling once again.

Lucinda Russell’s charge had not won for over three years but there was plenty of confidence behind the gelding after the yard scored a double here on Monday.

Available at 12-1 in the morning, the nine-year-old was backed through all rates down to 4-1 co-favourite at the off and he landed the money in style.

Peter Buchanan’s mount jumped soundly and saw off a series of challengers to beat Moment Of Madness by five lengths.

“He ran a good race last time after a break,” Russell said. “I thought he was better at two and a half but two miles on that ground was just fine for him.

“He jumped brilliantly and Peter gave him a great ride – confidence is everything.”

There was more woe for the layers when the heavily-backed Birdwatch battled on gamely to hold You Do The Math at bay by three-quarters of a length in the New Grandstand Season Ticket Handicap Hurdle.

Keith Reveley’s runner was beaten a short head at Wetherby last week, but he made amends with a battling display under Richie McGrath to provide his trainer with his first winner over jumps at the course.

Odds-on backers were also on the mark in the second division of the Membership At Ayr “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle when 1-2 chance The Duke’s Speech won unchallenged.

The bookmakers breathed a sigh of relief when 20-1 shot Stolen Moments got the better of even-money favourite Character Building by a neck in the closing Conferences At Ayr Racecourse Standard National Hunt Flat Race.