ONE of the most remarkable starting prices of the season turned up at Goodwood on Saturday when Roger Varian’s Ajman Princess, runner-up in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot last term was sent off at 6/1 – and still drifting – in the Listed Betfred TV Daisy Warwick Stakes for fillies and mares over a mile and a half.

Forecast at 2/1 or shorter in the morning, and well clear on official ratings, there is no telling why she proved so easy to back, having hacked up from inferior opposition (at 1/20) on the all-weather on her reappearance.

Clearly the memory of her poor run in the Irish Oaks after Ascot must have influenced many people.

Be that as it may, she fairly hacked up for Fran Berry, pulling five lengths clear of Elysian Fields and Dance The Dream.

Pupil assistant Sam Freedman said she would certainly be stepping up in grade next time.

Gosden filly laughs at the opposition

AT a time when John Gosden’s horses were winning just about everything, the Dubawi filly Laugh Aloud disappointed when only fifth over a mile on the all-weather at Kempton.

Showing that form to be all wrong, she made all to beat Intimation by over three lengths in the Listed Betfred Conqueror Stakes over the same trip. Punters kept the faith, making her a 3/1 chance despite the presence of Materialistic and Zest, second and third at Kempton, in the line-up. They both ran very poorly indeed, beating only Uele River home. Winning jockey Jimmy Fortune was impressed by Laugh Aloud and a Group 3 race may be within reach.

Irish raiders enjoy Scots success

Hamilton Park proved a happy hunting ground for Irish raiders on Sunday as What Wonders Weave landed the Totepool Maiden over the extended mile and Try Again followed up in a modest handicap over the same trip.

What Wonders Weave, trained by Pat Shanahan, proved just over a length too good for another filly, Mark Johnston’s Hamster Jam, after a protracted battle in the final two furlongs.

A daughter of Famous Name, she started at 100/30 on the strength of a promising debut at Dundalk and Shanahan believes she will be even better on softer ground over a longer trip.

Phillip Makin was in the saddle but Ben Curtis stepped up for the ride on Try Again, who had the better of Be Kool by three-parts of a length after hitting the front a furlong out on the 7/2 joint-favourite. “He’s rated 66 and there are no races for him in Ireland and the prize-money is better here too!”, smiled winning trainer Paul Flynn. “If he doesn’t go up too much he may go to Galway for a 0-70 race.”

Further success followed in Scotland on Monday when Lee Smith’s Duncan Of Scotland (11/1) made most of the running under Paul Mulrennan to win a six furlong handicap for owner Joseph Swanson. Not A Bad Aul Day added to the Irish success when the David Egan ridden gelding made most of the running for a three length success for Johnny Feane in Ayr’s final race on Tuesday.

There was further Irish success at Kelso on Wednesday when King’s Wharf won a six-runner handicap chase by 23 lengths for trainer Gavin Cromwell and jockey Jack Kennedy.