John Hoskins

IF it's October at Salisbury, then it must be Ralph Beckett. At last year's corresponding meeting, he sent out four winners and yesterday he notched a double with the beautifully bred La Pasionaria in the opening one mile juvenile race and Palmar Bay returning from a series of small setbacks to grab a seven furlong maiden, giving the Kimpton Down yard some consolation for the career-ending injury stable star Westover suffered in the Arc on Sunday.

 great man didn't appear, there again no one really expected him to do so. Eighteen years had passed since Aidan O'Brien saddled a runner at Salisbury, his last being Dylan Thomas, subsequent winner of the Irish Derby and Champion Stakes, who ran in the Autumn Stakes, ironically a meeting re-routed from Ascot because of major construction work there. 

Molly Stratton couldn't have written the script better - her first winner and achieved at her local track in front of her ecstatic family and friends who engulfed her after the thrilling finish.

SALISBURY'S racecourse supremo Jeremy Martin adopted a phlegmatic attitude over the poor turn out for the Tattersalls Sovereign Stakes, traditionally the richest race in their 16 meetings programme. 

THERE are diverse routes to get into racing but Olivia Tubb's must be unique - learning on a wooden horse her father constructed at their Chandlers Ford home!

SO how good is she? Evidently, above average, that's for sure. All horses run fast past trees but there was a real touch of class as French import Montauk Point readily disposed of a poor field in the seven furlong maiden at Salisbury last night (Sat).

WHITSBURY trainer Paul Henderson says he can no longer compete against the bigger yards and has relinquished his licence after 18 years. He now plans to take up equine dentistry after completing a course.

IF breeding was the sole criteria for success, Alyanaabi outclassed his rivals in the novice race at Salisbury, but pedigree is one thing and ability is another. However, the juvenile had been showing up well on the gallops and a winning debut was expected from the Too Darn Hot colt whose dam is closely related to a Classic and Coronation Cup winner.

TOM Marquand forwent the main stage of York for the racing repertory of Salisbury to land a four timer with a treble for his principal employer William Haggis, highlighted by Relief Rally who took the novice stakes in such commanding style to earn a trip to Royal Ascot next month.