Catching The Moon took the step up to stakes company in her stride to land the Group 3 Firth of Clyde at Ayr on Saturday, and began to live up to her pedigree in the process.

Richard Fahey’s no Nay Never filly travelled beautiful in midfield in the hands of Oisin Orr as Come on Eibhlin set the early pace.

Isle Of Fernandez took up the running as the race got serious and Catching The Moon was the first to lay down her challenge.

The 15/2 shot just held off the challenge of Lam Yai close home to cross the line a neck ahead.

Owned by Richard and Roisin Henry, Catching The Moon is by No Nay Never out of a half-sister to Pearls And Rubies and from the same family as the Oaks runner-up Quarter Moon.

Catching The Moon was following up an impressive victory last time out at Beverley to ensure Fahey won the race for a fourth time and Orr told ITV Racing: “She’s chilled out. We had a good position in behind the leaders. I travelled well and she probably didn’t really enjoy the ground but she got through it today. She’s picked up and done it nicely.

“On better ground you will see her run better. She’s a lovely filly and she’s very straightforward. She’s one of the nicer fillies and it’s great to be on her.”

Long absence

Almeric put a 158-day absence behind him as he came from last to first to comfortably land the Ladbrokes Doonside Cup Stakes.

Caviar Heights set the early pace in the Listed event with King’s Gambit keeping tabs on him two lengths in arrears with champion jockey Oisin Murphy happy to drop the Andrew Balding-trained Almeric in at the rear of the field.

Caviar Heights weakened as the race entered the final furlong and a half and Murphy timed his challenge to perfection and once he asked the question, Almeric glided to the front of the field as the 13/8 favourite won for the third time in four starts, two and three-quarter lengths clear of King’s Gambit.

Murphy told ITV: “He’s obviously a bit ring rusty because he’s been off the track for a while but he came into the race nicely but then he probably got to the front a little bit sooner than ideal.

“Obviously with the time off the track he should be sharper on his next start.

“We’ve always loved him he’s the most beautiful model.

“He’s almost got a perfect record having won his last three starts and he ran well on debut. When you make racehorses this is what they are supposed to look like.”