KEVIN DARLEY'S bid to retain the jockey's championship received a significant boost at Catterick yesterday when he cut Kieren Fallon's lead to six at the head of the table by booting home a near 13-1 double via Hireath and Soba Jones.

Darley ensured Hireath's 253-mile journey from the Vale Of Glamorgan wasn't in vain as the three-year-old finally opened her account in the six-furlong Derwent Maiden Stakes.

The Bryn Palling-trained filly showed no ill effects from her trip, making just about all of the running under a brilliant tactical ride by the reigning champion.

"The plan was to be up with the pace throughout," said winning owner Derek Clee.

Kevin then adopted similar tactics aboard Soba Jones, an all-the-way scorer in the Ullswater Classified Stakes.

Darley had his charge out of the stalls like lightning and never saw another rival as Soba Jones blazed a lone trail to come home a decisive three-length winner over the favourite Euro Venture.

"He had no chance from single figure draws at Beverley the last twice," reported the successful handler Tim Easterby.

Soon-to-retire Middleham trainer, Steve Kettlewell, was on the mark with Hout Bay in the closing sprint, but the day belonged to Darley, now challenging hard for a second successive jockey's title.

* Ghazal has been installed the ante-post favourite with the sponsors for the Tote Ayr Gold Cup, for which a record total of 180 sprinters have been entered.

Sir Michael Stoute's three-year-old filly is an 8-1 chance with the Tote. William Hill go 12-1 for the six-furlong handicap.

Ghazal, who has been given 8st 7lb, returned to form to win a conditions event in good style at Yarmouth last week to attract the bookmakers' attention.

Coral take a different view, with William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap winner Antonio Canova (8st 4lb) their market leader on 12-1 with Ghazal a 16-1 shot.

There is a safety limit of 29 for the Ayr Gold Cup and those who miss the cut for the big race are eligible to run in the Tote (Ayr) Silver Cup, which this year has moved to the Friday of the Western meeting.

Thirsk-based trainer David Nicholls, who was successful in the Gold Cup with Bahamian Pirate last year, has 14 entries.

His team includes Continent, Vodafone Stewards' Cup third Undeterred, who have both been given 8st 6lb, and The Tatling, a recent 11,000gns purchase out of Michael Bell's stable.

The Tatling is the highest rated of the Nicholls squad and is on the 9st mark.

Trainer's wife Alex Greaves said: ''We got him in July but he has been gelded and has only just come back into work so we will have to play it by ear as far as he is concerned.

''I suppose Continent, Undeterred and Further Outlook (8st 6lb) look sure to get in the Gold Cup. We will run whatever we can in one or the other depending on the ground conditions."

The weights are headed by local hope Orientor from Jim Goldie's yard at Uplawmoor, near Glasgow.

Orientor, successful in the William Hill Trophy at York and Ascot's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint this season, has been allotted 9st 12lb in the £100,000 contest.

Goldie also has Gosforth Park Cup victor Indian Spark on 9st 6lb in Scotland's most valuable Flat race.

However, both horses have prior engagements.

Orientor is set to head for Haydock Park and the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup on Saturday week, while the same afternoon Indian Spark is due to go to Ireland for the Flying Five Stakes at Leopardstown.

''It depends how Orientor goes in the Group One at Haydock,'' Goldie said. ''If he won, he'd have a penalty and then we wouldn't have to think about Ayr.''

The three-year-old finished a slightly disappointing two-length fifth behind Priors Lodge over seven furlongs at York last week.

''I think it was a messy race. They didn't go a gallop, which didn't suit us a horse that is held up off the pace,'' explained Goldie. ''They quickened up from the front and got first run.

''We were catching them. He was more like a miler than a six-furlong horse because he was staying on.

''It was just one of those races when there were no front runners.''

The seven-year-old Indian Spark finished a close third to Astonished at Nottingham last time to earn a tilt at the Irish race.

''He's going for the Flying Five at Leopardstown. That's his next target and then probably the Ayr Gold Cup.

''He ran a great race at Nottingham,'' added Goldie. ''He wasn't beaten far and he didn't get the run of the race - he was pushed wide.

''He's a talented horse and, if anything, he's improving.