HE has finally come good - not that it has been entirely his own fault. Just ask the trainer!

Much was expected of Amplify who looked a certain juvenile winner in waiting when just beaten on his Ascot debut last year but his winless streak had stretched to seven before the six furlong maiden at Salisbury last night. But win he did and much more comfortably than the official distance of a length would suggest.

So what has gone wrong?

Trainer Brian Meehan explained: "The ground was too loose and awkward at Doncaster last time, you must forgive him for that and the run at Kempton - well, that was my fault, it was too far. But he has been unlucky. After Ascot, he picked up a small injury which kept him off the course for five months.

"But he's a lovely horse, progressive and he enjoyed himself today. He has got a future."

And that will take the shape of a six furlong handicap at York next month, provided he gets his favoured top of the ground conditions. 

"We have waited and waited for them," said Meehan.

Fears Ship of the Fen might not stay the 14furlong handicap proved unfounded as the further they went, the better he went. 

"He's really tough," remarked Jason Watson who had dashed from the afternoon card at Goodwood to take the ride for dual purpose trainer Ian Williams, leaving the tantalising question of a potential National Hunt career may await.

Running for the stable for the first time since leaving Martyn Meade's yard, he accelerated like a lorry going downhill, slowly building up momentum before hitting top gear.

"We didn't go a mad gallop early on and he travelled strongly. I wasn't sure if he would stay and it took a little for him to get going but in the end he stayed on well."

Harry Bentley is certainly a jockey to follow and following a high profile double at Goodwood on Friday, landed the six furlong handicap.

And when you are a man in form, the breaks always follow.

It was a question of whether Raincall - the most inaptly named horse considering the cloudless conditions - would find a clear passage, and sure enough a gap appeared at the business end of the race.

Bentley however had been far from concerned on the 2/1 favourite.

"I wasn't worried because there is a cut way here and a gap always tends to open up. I had a good filly underneath."

Oisin Murphy's dash from Goodwood, where he rode a double, was rewarded when Pempie kept up trainer Andrew Balding's good form to take the 10furlong classified stakes by one and half lengths.

The three-year-old had to be driven out but always holding the persistent challenge of Starczewski.

"He's very green," said Murphy. "The owners are nice people and they certainly have a horse to look forward with." 

There was considerable money for the unraced Richard Hannon filly Partridge, who was backed in from 11/4 to 11/8 in the five furlong opener and it looked a winning debut as she appeared to master the exposed Dark Optimist but the David Evans colt showed the upmost gameness and got back up on the line to snatch victory by a nose.

Though most racegoers probably thought otherwise, jockey John Egan was always confident Dark Optimist would prevail.

"I had to go fast early on to burn off the two inside but I really thought I would get up. He's all heart."

Apprentice Finlay Marsh says Twenty Years On has still plenty to learn, despite taking the 12furlong handicap.

"He's genuine, very babyish and learning all the time. He lost it around the bend but when a horse came to him, he ran on again and I would say he would get further."