Jessie still a maiden despite trading short

Jessie Allan was backed down to 1.25 in the first division of the 7f handicap at Ayr, but she was asked to come from a long way back on a day when it paid to race handily at the Scottish track and her run petered out entering the final furlong.

Having said that, it's probably not a coincidence she is a 27-race maiden, although it is the first time she has traded at odds-on.

Dorcas saw plenty of daylight in the fillies' novice auction at Ripon, which is probably why she traded at a high of 16.5, but she was never far away and kept on well to get on top close home under Silvestre de Sousa, whose strike-rate at the track in the last five seasons is hovering at just under 40 per cent.