Hamilton hat-trick for Johnson
Mark Johnston has a great record at Hamilton and he was on top form in Scotland again with a treble courtesy of Count Paris, Quai D'Orsay and Always Bold.
The former started the ball rolling when getting up close home under Joe Fanning in the toteplacepot Nursery, rallying gamely in the testing ground to get in front with 100 yards to run and score by half a length from Scenic Pass.
Johnston said of the 6-4 favourite: "I thought things were a bit tight a furlong out, but Joe was never concerned.
"He was on the rails, but the ground was awful wherever you were.
"Count Paris is not a candidate to go to Godolphin and is not in the sales, so I think he might run again this season."
Johnston and his wife Deirdre gave £50 (€63.50) to each of the grooms in the Always Trying EBF Maiden Stakes and doubled up when Quai D'Orsay (3-1) impressed with an all-the-way victory under Greg Fairley.
The stable also ran Gesseem (7-4) who finished seventh and Johnston said: "I said beforehand that I thought this (Quai D'Orsay) was the one and I think his sire Sulamani is probably an underrated stallion.
"Godolphin are being more selective this year and will probably only take Group horses, and if Quai D'Orsay was to go he would have to do a lot more than win a maiden at Hamilton."
William Hill were quite taken with the winner and gave him a 50-1 quote for the 2009 Epsom Derby.
It was Fanning's turn again on Always Bold (4-1) who showed the way home in the totesuper7 Buttonhook Handicap and he may have a date at Newmarket next month.
Johnston went on: "He is in the Cesarewitch and he gets a 4lb penalty. I am confident he will stay the two and a quarter miles, although he is also in the sales."
Richard Fahey's decision to bring Knot In Wood (10-11 favourite) out again 24 hours after his gallant fourth place in the John Smith's Ayr Gold Cup paid off when he had little trouble in picking up first prize for the totepool Conditions Stakes in the hands of Paul Hanagan.
Part-owner Roger Rhodes said: "We put him in this race in case Ayr was abandoned and as he was declared Richard said he would run him if he was OK so here we are.
"This was to be his last race of the season, although he is in the Diadem Stakes at Ascot."
Bryan Smart had given up hope of Chosen One (7-2 joint-favourite) winning the toteswinger Handicap a furlong from home but he finished with a flourish under Tom Eaves to catch the gambled-on Baranovichi in the last strides and win by a head.
Smart said: "I turned away, I thought he was beaten.
"He is still green, that was only his third run but he flew in the last furlong.
"There is a lot more to come and we may run him under a 6lb penalty at Redcar next week."
Talk Of Saafend (15-8 favourite) completed a hat-trick and made it four wins from her last four starts under a confident ride from Hayley Turner in bet totepool On All UK Racing Premier Claiming Stakes.
Turner's two wins for the Richard Hannon team have come on this filly and she said: "Talk of Saafend did it very easily, I was worried about the ground (soft, heavy in places), but she came through it well."
However, the three-year-old left for new pastures having been claimed by trainer Peter Monteith.
Offshore Anna (2-1 favourite) struck in the Neilsland and Earnock Handicap for trainer John Quinn and apprentice Frederik Tylicki, although the latter picked up a four-day ban for excessive use of his whip.
