Swop swoops for Cumani

Luca Cumani's Swop (9-4 favourite) continued on a upward curve by taking the Howard Hughes Memorial Heartbeat Handicap at Doncaster.

Racing on turf for the first time, the three-year-old gelding was always prominent under Joe Fanning.

However, Sam's Secret laid down a challenge a furlong out and appeared to be travelling the better before Fanning urged his mount for one last effort and went on to win by a neck and defy a swift drift in the market.

"He really appreciated the quick ground," reported Fanning.

But the race was late off after ground staff were forced to cover a stretch of ground that went across the width of the track about a foot wide.

Protesters had set the ground on fire and it has been covered up for the previous three meetings. However, the grass cuttings had dried out before this meeting leaving the strip bare and spooking the horses.

Remedial work was carried out before the second race.

Another favourite obliged in the second race when Ed Dunlop's Fareer landed odds of 1-3 in the Sovereign Healthcare Heartbeat EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Third in a Goodwood maiden on debut, he was backed as if defeat was out of the question but his supporters will have had a few nervy moments a furlong out.

Secret Venue had bagged the rail and laid down a real challenge to the flashy chestnut but as soon as Martin Dwyer made his mind up for him he went away to win by a length and a quarter.

"He's a young, inexperienced horse and I thought he'd quicken better than he did," said Dwyer.

"But the noise of the crowd just spooked him a little and he was idling.

"He's a bit of a baby really but he will improve a lot."

Musaalem maintained his unbeaten record to provide Dwyer with a double in the Brian Gaynor Memorial Handicap.

Despite being a four-year-old this was only his third start, but the 13-8 favourite looks booked for bigger things.

His previous two victories had come over seven furlongs but brought back to six, he had no trouble in disposing of Mastership by one and three-quarter lengths.

"He's going the right way," said Maureen Haggas, wife of winning trainer William.

"Six furlongs proved no problems to him there and we didn't think it would inconvenience him.

"He's not unrelaxed but he does tend to want to get on with things. We've nothing in mind for him at present."