Warm glow for McDonald

PJ McDonald gained his first success for the Michael Dods stable when Leonid Glow defied top weight in the Bud And Joe Pieroni Memorial Handicap at Ayr.

The 15-8 favourite quickened up in great style to lead about a furlong out and burst clear to pass the post three and three-quarter lengths clear of Ubenkor.

Former successful jump jockey McDonald said: “I have had rides for Michael before so it is good to ride a winner for him.

“The plan was to settle her in fourth or fifth but she missed the break and I had to drop her in – if things had gone wrong I would have had to take it on the chin.

“But she picked up really well and I could not believe how much daylight she had put between us and the rest.”