Nicholls takes Gold Cup with Regal Parade

David Nicholls once again lived up to his 'Sprint King' moniker as he sent out Regal Parade to lead home a one-two in the John Smith's Ayr Gold Cup today.

Nicholls has become somewhat of a dominant force in the six-furlong contest and Regal Parade's two-and-a-quarter-length defeat of stablemate Tajneed was a fifth victory in the race for the Yorkshire handler.

Sent off an 18-1 chance, Regal Parade was one of six runners for Nicholls but the trainer's son and stable jockey Adrian opted to partner the well-fancied Tajneed.

That left William Carson, grandson of the legendary rider Willie, to take the mount and opted to settle at the rear of the stands side group.

Regal Parade was settled at the rear of the field in the early stages of the six-furlong sprint but picked up well to challenge a furlong out and pull two and a quarter lengths clear of Tajneed.

Confuchias was only a nose further back in third while Knot In Wood fared best of the group of runners on the far side to take fourth.

Nicholls admitted after the race that he had only met Carson for the first time as he gave him the leg up.

He said: "One of the owners booked William. I had never seen him before we met in the parade ring, and I told him to ride the horse with plenty of confidence and he gave him a great ride.

"We don't have a pecking order (for multiple runners). It is hard enough to get a horse with a chance in the race and if they are good enough, we run them all.

"All the owners know the score and as far as the stable is concerned, we don't mind what wins.

"It is a team effort and although my son Adrian rode the runner-up and will be gutted, he will also be pleased the team has won it.

"I think we might take Regal Parade to Dubai this winter."

Nicholls junior added: "My choice was between Tajneed and Valery Borzov and at least I got that right.

"The main thing is that dad trained the winner again, he loves this race."

Carson was registering the biggest success of his fledgling career and was pleased to achieve something his grandfather, the legendary Willie Carson, never did.

He added: "My grandfather never won the Ayr Gold Cup but he finished second once and he thought he had won!

"Everything went well in the race and Regal Parade did it really well."

Carson snr was watching at Newbury and said: "I am light headed and very happy for William - I'm lost for words."

Advanced was sent off the 15-2 favourite and after finishing 13th, rider Neil Callan said: "The ground was bit gluey for him but it was a pity the lead horses drifted off the rails and left a lot of daylight.

"My horse is straightforward and still struck the front inside the last two but then got stuck in the ground."

Louis-Philippe Beuzelin was suspended for one day (October 6) for careless riding on sixth-placed Patavellian.

Lady Deauville (15-2) made amends for a disappointing effort at Goodwood last time as she galloped out a length-and-three-quarter winner of the Listed Alphabet Supplies Doonside Cup.

Winning handler Paul Blockley said: "I was disappointed with her at Goodwood last time, but she had been off for a while and was very fresh.

"If the ground is right she will go to Gowran Park next Saturday and looking further ahead, there is a 10-furlong fillies' and mares' race in Rome."

Alan Bailey's Aspen Darlin came with a storming run down the stands side to bag the Group Three Laundry Cottage Stud Firth Of Clyde Stakes under Jimmy Quinn.

Bailey said: "She did that well. I thought she had a hell of a chance and I told the owners she would not be out of the first three.

"We'll have to see what's next - there is a Group Three at the Curragh coming up and we might go there but she is in at the sales later on.

"It was part of the rules of the syndicate who own her but I don't know if they will sell her now."

Rising Prospect (15-2) displayed plenty of stamina as he ran out a two-and-three-quarter-length winner of the opening Nigel Angus Memorial Nursery at Ayr in the hands of Eddie Ahern.

Geoff Turnbull, who owns the colt in partnership with his wife Sandra, added: "He is entered in the Derby but after his last two runs, we don't think he is good enough to be aimed at that."

Bolodenka, trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Paul Hanagan, returned to his best to notch his first win in over a year in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Ayrshire Handicap.

Fahey said: "We had him ready to go hurdling and took him to Galway but he got balloted out of two races over there. He will go jumping at some stage though."

Frederik Tylicki was suspended for three days (October 8-10 inclusive) for careless riding on third-placed Benandonner.

Robert Winston suspended for one day for careless riding and two days for using his whip with excessive frequency for his winning ride aboard Tarkheena Prince (-2) in the Dobbie Electrical Contractors Handicap.

Winston will be out of action October 6-8 inclusive.

The closing Sked Construction - Concrete (What We Do) Handicap went to Jim Goldie's Wind Shuffle (13-2).