Uncle Alastair bags hat-trick with Ayr triumph

Uncle Alastair completed a hat-trick with a determined success in the Racing UK Novices' Hurdle at Ayr.

Trained by Nicky Richards for Paul and Clare Rooney, the six-year-old showed a really willing attitude under Craig Nichol to defeat Bulkov by a length and a quarter.

Uncle Alastair has now won five of his six starts, three of which have come at Ayr.

Richards said of the 4-6 favourite: "He's got a great attitude and is a lovely horse. He jumped great and travelled as well as could be expected on that ground.

"I'm not sure what's next. He's won three so I suspect we'll have to go handicapping, but he'll make a lovely chaser one day.

"He's got a great record already but when he gets some decent ground and some fences in front of him, he'll be at his best."

Nichol had earlier won aboard Sweet As Candy for the in-form Rose Dobbin.

The 4-1 shot looked booked for second after the last, only to battle back and beat Behindthelines by three-quarters of a length.

Micky Hammond's horses are running better than his statistics for January would suggest and the consistent Knocknamona (3-1) made it four in a row in the ROA/Racing Post Owners' Jackpot Chase.

Despite a 15lb rise in the weights, he was able to see off all-comers in the straight under Alain Cawley.

Donald McCain was successful with his only runner of the day as Hills Of Dubai (13-8 favourite) made all the running in the Only 1,000 Racing UK Free Trials Handicap Chase, as Brian Hughes maintained his good strike-rate when the pair team up.