Best bar none for Harris

Best One does not win too often but he finally enjoyed his first success of the year thanks to a canny ride from Chris Catlin at Brighton.

Ron Harris keeps the six-year-old busy but the trainer admits he can be a bit of a character and needs plenty of encouragement, although with the majority of the field in the Hardings Catering Handicap wearing some form of headgear, he was in good company.

Catlin followed instructions to the letter on the 12-1 chance, passing Wooden King and Albero di Giuda close home to secure a neck victory.

"They went very fast in front and I just had to hold on to him as long as I could and just kid him along. He just idled a bit, but it's nice to see him win - he deserves it," said Catlin.

Catlin had quickly mastered the ground bias on the idiosyncratic track as he went widest of all to help Mandhooma reach a hat-trick of Brighton victories in a fortnight.

Peter Hiatt's filly scored over six and then five furlongs at the last couple of meetings but she was inexplicably sent off at 8-1 for the 3663 First For Food Service Handicap.

She looked in a little trouble turning for home but Catlin headed for the middle of the course as the other four went for the far rail and Mandhooma picked them off with stealth tactics and beat 11-8 favourite Piazza San Pietro by a head.

"She just seems to be coming to herself, and she does love it here," mused Hiatt.

"I'm not sure she will go over five again, but now we have started holding her up, I think she could get seven furlongs. Any time there's a race here, she'll be there."

Catlin was given a three-day ban (July 27, 29 and 30) for allowing Mandhooma to drift left-handed for a considerable period, but all of the field followed his example in the Catering Services International Median Auction Maiden Stakes and it was Miss Moneypenni (5-2) who was up to the mission.

Nick Littmoden's nicely-named but cheaply-purchased filly by Monsieur Bond had been eighth in a good maiden at Newmarket last time and was well in command with two furlongs to run.

Owner Ross Hartshorn said: "She wasn't accepted at the sales but the breeder very kindly let us have her for next to nothing.

"The winner at Newmarket, Sweet Cecily, looks very good but we ran on our own in the middle and weren't beaten that far. I think she's a lot better than that run."