TWO Salisbury ever presents are making steady headway toward personal milestones - and one can thank the city's notorious Friday evening traffic jams to add to her burgeoning total.

Rob Hornby was one of three riders who couldn't reach the racecourse for the twilight card, leaving Hollie Doyle to pick up the spare ride on Mild Illusion just 10 minutes before the six furlong nursery.

The favourite, settled behind the leaders, quickened clear inside the final furlong to leave her just 16 short of 100 winners for the season.

"They went quick and I was able to settle her behind. Once switched, she responded nicely."

Clive Cox needs just nine to overhaul his season's best of 68 following a front running double on the basis if it works, why change it.

Royal Ambition was quoted in the racing press at best 8/1 for the seven furlong nursery but remarkably was returned at a staggering 20/1 with connections even getting 33/1.

After three less than impressive performances, the Dandy Man showed distinct improvement when allowed to dictate from the front at Lingfield last month and naturally the same tactics were deployed.

A posse threatened to engulf him inside the final two furlongs but Royal Ambition battled on well to give owner Jason Goddard his second 20/1 success of the week, following Dark Shadow's win at Doncaster.

"We were never going to change that running style,"said Cox. "I'm pleased he got the seven furlongs. He's a very versatile as to the ground and goes on the all weather."

Grisons, who bolted in at Bath last month, looked nicely weighted in the six furlong handicap and predictably stretched clear to win by two and a half lengths.

"It's taken a while for him to come to himself and got more confidence," explained Cox. "It's always nice to have a winner at a local track. Salisbury is a great place to come to. They look after you very well."

The feature race, which only attracted three runners, was reduced to a match when the outsider Platitude refused to race. It then became a cat and mouse affair with the cat winning - but only just.

Weekender stalked King's Advice until two furlongs out in the Persian Punch condition stakes but he is a wily old professional who only does just enough and had to be rousted by Robert Havlin after his rival fought back tenaciously.

"He put the race to bed and thought he had done enough," he explained.

Clipped from 5/1 to 7/2, Oleksander justified late market support by winning the opening one mile maiden, showing undoubted promise he will be even better next year.

With the favourite Red Missile in trouble at half way, the unraced two-year-old shrugged off the other pace setter in North Point a furlong and a half out and was not hard pressed to hold the late challenge of the penalised Luigi Vampa.

The performance certainly did not surprise David Egan who has been schooling the horse on Archie Watson's gallops.

"He did that nicely," he said. "I have ridden him at home where he has shown a bit. He's a big strong raw horse and anything he does this year will be a bonus. He will be better over middle distances next season."