Doyle delivers on Bach

Sophie Doyle has struck up a good partnership with Croeso Bach and the pair finally got off the mark in the Join BetfairClub ROA Handicap at Brighton.

Doyle landed the ride on John Spearing’s charge after putting the filly through a stalls test following a nasty incident when she got under the gate and galloped loose at the seaside track last July.

Owner Richard Evans decided to keep the claimer as permanent rider and that decision paid off as the 6-1 chance made virtually every yard to beat Thoughtsofstardom by a neck.

Doyle said: “The first time I rode her she spoiled her chance by hanging, but she’d battled well in coming second twice.

“I was headed for a few strides over a furlong out, but she had plenty left when I asked her.”

There was a sting in the tail for Doyle, however, as she picked-up a three-day suspension (June 25-27 inclusive) for careless riding.

Chris Catlin demonstrated why he is the leading rider at Brighton when scoring on Sea Admiral (11-4) in the For A Winning Career Visit rpjobs.co.uk Handicap.

Roger Charlton’s gelding sported first-time blinkers and was ridden to take the sting out of his rivals.

With well over a furlong to travel Miss Jolyon looked to have taken his measure, but Catlin galvanised Sea Admiral to get back up in the final stride to score by a nose.

Charlton was represented by pupil-assistant Daniel Kubler who said: “The blinkers did what we hoped they would.

“This horse lacks a turn of foot which is why Chris rode him from the front.”

Choreography (8-1) was popular half-length winner of the Weatherbys Bloodstock Services Handicap for Lewes-based handler Jim Best.

He said: “The owners moved him from Dandy Nicholls. He had a virus earlier in the season and has had a few problems.”

Hayley Turner was banned for two days (June 25 and 26) after being found guilty of careless riding aboard fourth-placed Cap St Jean.

There was abundant interest in African Pursuits after Hughie Morrison’s 4-5 favourite had hacked up by four and a half lengths in the Best Jobs In Betting at betrecruit.com Selling Stakes.

In the end the hammer fell on the bid of owner Ron Huggins, who gave 6,800 guineas for the Johannesburg gelding.

Morrison said: “He was bought as a replacement for our July Cup winner Pastoral Pursuits but has been a bit of a wimp.

“He’s a charming horse without any bottle. You have to come down to this level when they don’t give it to you, and while it looked as if he won easily, equally he didn’t look like an odds-on shot over two out.”

Trainer Bernard Llewellyn’s son John was full of praise for Neil Callan after his winning ride aboard Mountain Pass in the Connolly’s Red Mills Horsefeeds Claiming Stakes.

The six-year-old was well-supported down to 9-2 co-favourite and received the full Callan drive as he got the better of Split The Wind by half a length.

John Llewellyn said: “Having lost several horses to Timmy Vaughan, we only train our own and for Terry Warner nowadays.

“Neil is different class and I asked him to come down today.

“This horse is blind in one eye and has a paralysed tongue, yet this is the fourth race he’s won for us.”