THE bookmakers were paying out after the Ayr Gold and Silver Cups but very few punters found Ann Duffield’s Dark Reckoning, 25/1 winner of the Group 3 William Hill Firth Of Clyde Stakes for juvenile fillies in the hands of Graham Lee.

This race so nearly gave James Doyle another success but, after leading close home on Richard Hannon’s Parsley, the combination was caught in the dying strides as Lee delayed his final thrust, getting up by a short head. Ger Lyons’ 3/1 favourite Ainippe was keeping on well in third but Blackbriar, sent over by Tommy Stack, faded into sixth.