GOLDEN DIXIE looks the class act in this afternoon's six furlong Tote-sponsored Ayr Silver Cup.

Rookie Kingslere handler Andrew Balding is enjoying a dream start to his training career and mugging his northern counterparts in the big-race of the day at the Scottish track would be yet another feather in his cap.

Since taking over from his father, Ian, at the start of the season, Andrew immediately proved he was up to his new high-profile appointment by landing the Group 1 Epsom Oaks with Casual Look.

Golden Dixie patently isn't in that league, however he won two races in decent company last term and given the evidence of his fourth placing at Ascot in July should go close in the £15,000 sprint showpiece.

With Mark Johnston's juveniles continuing to carry all before them, Woody Valentine (4.20) has to be of interest in the Knight Frank Nursery.

Mark has done well in the past with sons and daughters of the top USA sire Woodman, and Woody Valentine, successful at Hamilton last time out, is yet another Kingsley House two-year-old import to excel.

Grey Clouds (4.55) is a particularly appropriate tip in the mile-and-a-quarter Fillies Handicap on account of the fact it pelted down throughout yesterday's entertainment.

Fast-improving Grey Clouds was thwarted by a funereal early gallop rather than lack of speed when bidding to complete a three-timer at Ripon late last month. There should be no such excuses for Tim Easterby's strapping three-year-old this time round granted the presence of a couple of known front-runners in the line-up for the £8,000 contest.

Grey Clouds, who is a lovely big rangy sort of individual, will probably be seen to good effect over much longer distances in the future, in the meantime Tim's decision to stick to ten furlongs has been boosted by the rain-softened surface.

Down at Newbury some useful youngsters do battle for the prestigious six furlong Mill Reef Stakes.

For once Irish wizard Aidan O'Brien has not been cleaning up all of the top two-year-old races this term, but on this occasion he does appear to hold the trump card in the guise of Grand Reward (2.55).

Most unusually O'Brien picked a maiden event over course and distance for Grand Reward to make his triumphant debut way back in June. There wasn't any big money on offer and Aidan's long term plan must have been to run in today's valuable Group 2 event.

Mick Channon's bang-slap in the middle of a purple patch at present hence the reason for latching onto Three Days In May (4.10), fancied to run well in the Stora/Enso Reel Paper Fillies Handicap at Nottingham.

Three Days In May ran a cracker at Salisbury on Tuesday when third over seven furlongs from a lousy low draw. She faded close home that day and so the ploy of dropping back a furlong, plus the benefit of being benefit of being able to hug the far rail from stall six, could bring about the right result.

* Racing's leaders, so often at loggerheads, have united in opposing the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) recommendations on the sport's future, the Commons was told yesterday.

Tory Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) said the controversy centred on a preliminary notice issued by the OFT.

He said it stated that ''it believes there are unacceptable restrictions on competition caused by the central control of the fixture list by the British Horseracing Board, by the central selling of data regarding details of races by the same body and the setting of rules and orders by the Jockey Club''.

Robertson, whose constituency includes Cheltenham, said: ''It's a sad fact that the many factions in racing - breeders, owners, jockeys, stable staff, bookmakers and so on - are warring factions.

''The industry is well known for it. But this preliminary ruling by the OFT has served to unite almost the entire racing fraternity in opposition to its plans.''

Opening a short debate, he said that over the last ten years attendances at races had increased by 21 per cent, so consumers did not seem ''unduly worried about the way in which horseracing is run''.

Both the Jockey Club and the BHB have recently presented submissions to the OFT, contesting its findings.

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