Mullineaux has his sights set on silver
Cheshire trainer Mick Mullineaux sent Methaaly on a reconnaissance mission to Ayr and it paid off when the five-year-old won the Giles Insurance Corporate Handicap.
The 20-1 chance was supplementing a win at Wolverhampton a week earlier and even better things may yet await.
Mullineaux said: “We won the Ayr Silver Cup a few years ago with Lady Boxer and we would like to try and win it again, so we brought Methaaly up here to get a look at the place.
“He is in at Doncaster on Friday, but I don’t know if he will go there yet.”
Adrian Underwood will be back in the day job near Preston after enjoying an afternoon to remember.
The 70-year-old school lollipop man was in attendance as Look Busy won the £40,000 Giles Insurance Handicap in the hands of apprentice Slade O’Hara.
There were plenty with chances over a furlong out in the very competitive five-furlong dash, with no quarter being asked or given.
But none was braver than the Alan Berry-trained 10-1 chance, who really stuck her neck out to get in front in the last 50 yards and edge half a length clear of last year’s winner, the gallant top-weight Fullandby.
Former school teacher Underwood could not conceal his delight and he enthused: “She is the first horse I have had and cost only 7,500 euros.
“I think Alan plans to run her in a Group Three race at Goodwood now.”
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.
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.
There were only six runners in the EBF Maiden Stakes, but almost all were fancied and it was the Mark Johnston-trained newcomer Weatherstaff who came out best in the hands of Greg Fairley.
Fairley completed a double when the Tim Etherington-trained Embra, carrying the colours made famous by the mighty dual Champion Hurdle winner Sea Pigeon, won the concluding racinguk.tv Handicap.
Signalman was a faller last time out on the Flat after clipping heels but showed his confidence had not been dented when running out a decisive winner of the Giles Insurance Premier Handicap in the hands of Royston Ffrench.
The 16-1 chance went to the front inside the last two furlongs and with the race soon in safe keeping he passed the post with two and three-quarter lengths in hand over Kyber.
Owner/trainer Peter Monteith said: “We really fancied him and we will keep him on the Flat for now, although he was bought to go jumping.”
Things had not gone too well for Neil Callan earlier in the afternoon, but his luck changed when he brought James Bethell’s gambled-on Whaston (14-1 to 7-1) home in front in the WaterAid Ladies Night 9th August Handicap.
